Zach Johnson wins Crowne Plaza Invitational

Zach Johnson finished one shot clear of fellow American Jason Dufner to win the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club. It was his second victory in the event since 2010.

It could have been a different story as Johnson was given a two-stroke penalty on the final hole. The American failed to move his marker back to the correct position after shifting it a putter head length away from Jason Dufner’s line. Fortunately, he then holed out and had enough in reserve to win by a shot.

“I’m going to focus on the positives, because I hit a really solid putt and it’s a good thing I made it,” Johnson said. “No harm, no foul. It was my fault.”

The final round was effectively a head-to-head contest between Johnson and Dufner. The 2010 champion held a one-stroke lead coming to the 15th hole and it was the 414-yard par four that would prove to be the turning point.

Dufner’s approach touched the left side of the green before rolling into a water hazard. He ended up making a disastrous triple bogey and, when Johnson secured a par, he had a four shot cushion.

For Dufner it was a disappointing day but he was able to remain upbeat. He won last week at the Byron Nelson Championship and has moved into the top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Together with Luke Donald, he’s the most on-form golfer in the game at present.

“It was a pretty good run, but a little disappointing today,” he said. “I feel pretty good though, just played poorly today.”

Tommy “two gloves” Gainey fired a solid final round of 67 to finish the week in third place with Jim Furyk a stroke further back in fourth.

Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
24-27 May, purse $6,400,000, par 70

1 Zach Johnson (USA) 64 67 65 72 268 $1,152,000
2 Jason Dufner (USA) 65 64 66 74 269 $691,200
3 Tommy Gainey (USA) 66 67 73 67 273 $435,200
4 Jim Furyk (USA)    69 69 68 68 274 $307,200
T5 Harris English (USA) 65 70 73 67 275 $216,960
T5 Rickie Fowler (USA) 68 68 70 69 275 $216,960
T5 John Huh (USA)    70 66 69 70 275 $216,960
T5 Chris Kirk (USA)    71 69 70 65 275 $216,960
T5 Ryan Palmer (USA) 68 67 70 70 275 $216,960
T10 Jonas Blixt (Swe)    73 67 66 71 277 $160,000
T10 Jonathan Byrd (USA) 72 68 67 70 277 $160,000
T10 Ben Crane (USA)    70 71 68 68 277 $160,000