Grant Waite was hoping to get a lesson on golf. He got much more than he bargained for.
Waite won his first PGA tournament on Sunday, shooting a 1-under-par 70 to defeat veteran Tom Kite by one stroke. Waite never before had been in such a pressure-packed situation, so he planned to make the best of it whether he won or lost."I tried to make sure that no matter what, I would keep my eyes open and get something out of it," he said. "Tom is a great golfer - he's what golf is all about. I learned a lot from him."
Waite and Kite, paired in the final twosome, staged a memorable battle in which no player led by more than two strokes. Ultimately, the tutor lost out to the student.
Kite had a 72, getting two bogeys on the front nine and notching his only birdie with a 45-foot putt on No. 12. He settled for a second-place check and the satisfaction of knowing his game could get even better once he fully recovers from a back injury he suffered two months ago.
Waite, a native of New Zealand now living in Salt Lake City, finished at 9-under 275.
Waite held a 2-stroke lead over Kite with five holes left. He then fell back into a tie with consecutive bogeys before taking the lead for good with a twisting 40-foot birdie putt on No. 16.
Waite then parred the final two holes, clinching the victory with an 18-inch putt on No. 18 after blasting out of a bunker, to take the $234,000 winner's check. Kite barely missed an 18-foot putt for birdie on 18.
Waite, who trailed Kite by a stroke entering the final round, came into the Kemper with career earnings of $134,689, having never finished better than fourth.
"I was kind of nervous, but I was having the time of my life," he said.