Closing 63 Delivers Runaway Win for Kevin Spooner at Wigwam Resort


Wigwam Resort

By Stewart Moore

Litchfield Park, Ariz. – Kevin Spooner of British Columbia, Canada posted a bogey-free 63 in the final round of the eGolf Gateway Tour’s final spring series event at Wigwam Resort on Wednesday afternoon to record a 15-under 195 total – good for a one-shot victory and the event’s $13,000 first-place prize.

Spooner, 26, opened his week at the resort’s Red Course with rounds of 66-66—132 to sit at 8-under par, trailing Riley Arp of Fort Collins, Colo. by one shot entering the third and final round.

Arp looked to be in complete control of the tournament early on Wednesday, birdieing three of his first six holes to move up to 12-under par for the week.

Spooner, doing his best to keep pace, birdied Nos. 5, 7 and 8 to turn in 3-under 32 and 11-under total, just one back of Arp with nine holes to go.

The back nine, however, belonged to Spooner.

The former Washington Husky star birdied 10, 11 and 12 to seize the tournament lead at 14-under par, suddenly flipping roles with Arp, who now trailed his playing partner by two shots with six holes to play.

When Spooner birdied the par-4 15th, the title was all but claimed, as the West Vancouver native soared to 15-under par for the week.

Pars over his final three holes delivered a brilliant 7-under 63 for Spooner, who wound up at 15-under 195 overall – four shots clear of Arp and fellow Canadian Cory Renfrew.

The win was the second of Spooner’s 2014-15 season, dating back to a win at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in December. All told, he notched eight top-20 finishes this year in just 10 starts, good for total earnings of $34,888.

Arp and Renfrew earned $6,400 each for their T2 finishes.

It was Renfrew who posed the biggest challenge to Spooner down the stretch after a birdie on the par-4 14th moved the 29-year-old to 12-under par.

The Victoria, British Columbia native bogeyed 15 and 16 to fall out of the mix before birdieing the last to sneak into a runner-up effort.

The Wigwam event represented the final spring series event for the eGolf Gateway Tour’s west coast series. The tour will hold a one-day qualifier for the Web.com Tour’s United Leasing Championship on Monday, April 13th. The event, which will also feature a purse, is open to members and non-members. Spots remain available.