PARKINSON RUNS AWAY FROM THE PACK TO WIN CAVE CREEK CLASSIC

Joe Parkinson fired an 8-under 64 in the final round on his way to a six shot victory at the OnCore Gateway Tour’s Cave Creek Classic at Dove Valley Ranch. The 64 was the low round of the tournament and included a stellar 6-under 30 on the back nine, where he really separated from the rest of the field.

Parkinson opened with rounds of 70-68 and had a three shot lead over Ryan Dillon heading into the final day. He carded two birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 8-under, but Dillon countered with three birdies on the front nine to make the turn two shots back of Parkinson at 6-under par.

That is when Parkinson made his move. He birdied two of the first three holes to get to 10-under, and then added birdies on 15 and 16 to get to 12-under. Dillon couldn’t keep pace, as he could only manage pars on the first four holes on the back nine. He did card birdies on 14 and 16 to get to 8-under, but it wasn’t enough to catch Parkinson, who closed with an eagle on the par-5 17th and a birdie on 18 to finish at 14-under for the tournament.

Dillon carded rounds of 70-71-67 to finish solo second at 8-under, while Seann Harlingten and Mac Mcclung finished T3 at 6-under par. Harlingten was 4-under for the day and jumped into his T3 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 17th. Mcclung shot 69 in the final round and closed his day with a birdie on the par-4 18th to join Harlingten at T3.

Trent Sanders shot rounds of 75-68-71 to finish fifth at 1-under, while Zachary Bryant finished sixth at even par.

The win was the first this year for Parkinson and was his fourth Top-10 of the season. He was only 3-under on the front nine during the week, but was dialed in on the back, going 11-under par, including his final-round 30 on the backside.

For complete results from the Cave Creek Classic CLICK HERE.

Next up on the OnCore Gateway Tour the KBS Golf Shafts Open at Wigwam Resort, Mar. 28-30, followed by the Patrick Gibbons Handmade Classic at Lone Tree Golf Club, April 5-7.