1/25-Stricker crumbles in final round at Bob Hope

La Quinta, CA (Sports Network) - Pat Perez sure knew how to polish off his first PGA Tour win. Perez knocked his second shot to two feet to set up a closing eagle en route to victory at the 50th Bob Hope Classic. "Its just awesome," said Perez. Perez shot a three-under 69 on Sunday and won the tournament at 33-under 327. He won by three over John Merrick, but the tournament was tight down the stretch. Merrick and Perez were tied and Merrick received an incredibly fortunate bounce off the 16th tee. His drive was headed right of a canal, but hit the facade and bounced into the fairway. Merricks second stopped eight feet from the hole, but Merrick missed. The 17th hole proved critical. Merrick missed the green right at the par-three hole and chipped up to nine feet. He missed the par putt to fall one behind Perez, who, in the final group, saved par from long of the putting surface. Merrick hit a good drive at the par-five closing hole at the Palmer Private Course. His second came up short and he pitched his third to 12 feet. Merricks putt stayed above ground and he would need some help from Perez to make a playoff. Perez promptly ended any chance of that. He hit a long drive down the fairway and then his second rolled up two feet from the hole. Perez kicked it in for his first PGA Tour title. "I killed it. I couldnt believe how far down I got it there," said Perez. "I wasnt upset either." Until Sunday, most people knew Perez by the reputation of his temper. At Pebble Beach in 2002, Perez held the lead on the 18th tee, but triple-bogeyed the hole and lost to Matt Gogel. He slammed clubs against the ground. He cursed and he never won. That changed on Sunday. "It was the same thing at Pebble," joked Perez. "You have a par three, then a a par five and things went south. I said that wasnt going to happen today. Were going to make things happen." Merrick shot a five-under 67 on Sunday to take second at minus-30. "I had a lot of fun," admitted Merrick. "Its great for me to get in that position. I started the day eight back so to have a chance with the last couple holes is all I could ask for." Winds kicked up significantly on Sunday and the biggest victim was overnight- leader Steve Stricker. He triple-bogeyed seven and quadruple-bogeyed 10 after one drive out of bounds and one in the water. The massive blowup from Stricker left Perez, who had four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey on the front nine, alone in the lead, but also allowed more players back into the tournament. The first to step up was Merrick. He recorded four birdies on the front nine, but joined Perez atop the leaderboard with an eagle at the par-five 11th. That partnership in first didnt last long. Perez two-putted for a birdie at 11 and Merrick could not get up and down from the side of the 12th green. That left Perez with a two-shot cushion. That margin got cut in half when Merrick tapped in a short birdie putt at the par-four 14th. Perez went a little off the green with his tee ball at 15 and paid the price. He chipped 12 feet past the stick and missed the comebacker. Then it was Perez who played better down the stretch. Stricker finished with a five-over 77 and tied for third place with 2003 champion Mike Weir, who posted a five-under 67. The pair finished at 28-under 332. Stephen Ames (63), Bo Van Pelt (67), Tim Clark (69) and Webb Simpson (69) shared fifth place at minus-27. Last years winner D.J. Trahan shot a two-under 70 and tied for 14th place at 25-under 335. (Copyright 2005 by The Sports Network)