Max Homa wins Web.com Tour’s Rust Oleum Championship

Max Homa (Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

IVANHOE, Ill. – Max Homa won the Rust-Oleum Championship on Sunday for his second Web.com Tour victory, closing with a 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Josh Teater and John Mallinger.

“I feel better and better after each minute,” Homa said. “It feels a little surreal. I don’t think it will sink in until tonight or tomorrow, but I feel very proud.”

The 25-year-old former California player overcame a seven-stroke deficit. He birdied the par-5 14th and 15th holes, bogeyed the par-3 17th and parred the par-4 18th to finish at 13-under 275 at Ivanhoe Club.

Teater, the third-round leader, bogeyed the final hole for a 75 after hitting his second shot over the green. He also narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie putt at 17.

“I wanted to have a chance (at a birdie), but I just didn’t hit the shot I wanted,” Teater said. “It wasn’t great all day, but hung in there.”

Mallinger had a 69. He eagled the 15th and parred the final three.

“I thought I was going to be in a playoff,” said Homa, also the 2014 BMW Charity Pro-Am winner. “Those last three holes are very hard, and I’d be very impressed and he’d be a worthy champion. But I got a little lucky there.”

Homa earned $108,000 to jump from 52nd to ninth on the money list with $147,953, with the top 25 at the end of the regular season earning PGA Tour cards.

“I’m curious to see because my game is far and away the best it’s ever been,” said Homa, the 2013 NCAA champion. “Not just this week, but this season. I put in a lot of work. I think my mental game is getting to the point where it needs to be to contend with the big boys. I’m curious as you to see where it goes. I’m looking forward to the rest of this season to continue to grow and to next year to be able to put what I’m learning to good use.”