Lake Buena Vista, FL (Sports Network) - Charlie Beljan closed with a 3-under
69 on Sunday to win the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Classic by two
strokes.
Beljan, who collected his first PGA Tour win, finished at 16-under-par 272.
The 28-year-old had entered the week needing a good finish to keep his tour
card as he stood 139th on the money list. Thanks to four rounds of 71 or
better, he now has his tour card for the next two seasons.
Beljan spent Friday night in the hospital after barely making it through
Friday's round. He struggled with a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and
nearly fainted several times during the round.
After his night in the hospital in which he got an hour of sleep, Beljan
returned to the Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World Resort and carded a 71 to
remain atop the leaderboard.
In the final round, he briefly dropped into a share of the lead, but responded
with five birdies in a 6-hole span from the seventh to pull away. He hung on
down the stretch to earn his first victory.
Matt Every and Robert Garrigus both shot 4-under 68 in the final round to
share second place at minus-14. Brian Gay was one stroke back at 13-under-par
275 after a final-round 70.
With this being the final official event of the season, the other race was to
get inside the top 125 on the money list.
Beljan and Kevin Chappell both moved inside that mark, while Rod Pampling and
Billy Mayfair, who both missed the cut this week, fell to Nos. 127 and 128
respectively. They will have partial PGA Tour status next year, which will get
them into some events.
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