LEON, Mexico (AP) - Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz won the El Bosque Mexico Championship on Sunday for his second Web.com Tour victory of the season.
The 22-year-old former North Texas player, the Panama Claro Championship winner last month, closed with a 4-under 68 at El Bosque Country Club for a two-stroke victory over Justin Thomas.
“It’s an honor to win here in Mexico,” Ortiz said. “It makes everyone so happy around here. I don’t have the words, it just feels great.”
Ortiz finished at 13-under 275 and earned $126,000 to jump from second to first on the money list with $304,458 - well over the amount needed to earn a PGA Tour spot next season as a top-25 finisher. He would earn an immediate PGA Tour promotion with another victory.
“I just stay patient, trust my game plan, and just let it flow,” Ortiz said. “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and see if I can get that third win.”
From Guadalajara, Ortiz rebounded from an opening 74 with rounds of 67 and 66 for a share of the third-round lead with Nathan Green. Ortiz played the first 15 holes in 5 under Sunday, then bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 before closing with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th.
“I was pretty shaky at the end,” Ortiz said. “But I managed to hit it on the green in two at 18. After that, I knew I had it.”
Thomas finished with a 69.
Green, from Australia, had a 74 to drop into a tie for third at 7 under with Adam Hadwin, Jason Gore, Daniel Berger, Nathan Tyler and Jonathan Randolph.
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