David McDaniel (Tucson) shot a final-round 3-under par 69 and outlasted runner-up Michael Hopper (Phoenix) in a three-hole playoff to win the 2014 Sedona Open at Oakcreek Country Club. The victory was McDaniel’s second Sedona Open win in the last three years.

McDaniel had a one shot lead heading into the final round, but saw that lead vanquish quickly as Hopper came out hot with birdies on three of the first six holes to get to get to 15-under for the tournament. McDaniel on the other hand only managed to make par on the first five holes before carding a bogey on the par-5 sixth hole to drop him to 12-under par, three shots back of Hopper.

Ryan Hogue (Mesa) got into the mix as well early on, carding birdies on two of the first five holes and a clutch eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to get to 14-under par creating a crowded leaderboard.

Hopper held onto his lead as the last group made the turn, but that didn’t last long, as McDaniel make a quick charge on the back nine with birdies on 10, 12, 14 and 15 to get back to 16-under. Meanwhile, Hopper birdied 10 to get to 16-under but dropped a shot when he made a costly bogey on the par-4 15th. He rebounded with a birdie on 16 to knot things up with McDaniel at 16-under for the tournament, and the duo both made par on the final two holes to force the playoff.

In the playoff, both made bogey on the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, then both made par as they played 18 again for the second playoff hole. The third and deciding playoff hole took place on hole 10. Both players were safely in the fairway, while McDaniel’s approach shot landed on the green and Hopper found himself in the rough just right of the green. Hopper chipped up to about five feet on his third shot and missed his putt for par, while McDaniel two-putted easily from 20 feet to make his par and secure the win.

McDaniel took home $4,000 for the win, while Hopper earned $2,400 for his runner-up finish.

Hogue, who made an early charge and got to 14-under and among the leaders, couldn’t get much going the rest of the day. He made two double-bogeys early on the back nine and settled for a T3 finish at 12-under par. Dave Yarnes (Scottsdale) joined Hogue in third place after his final round 70 that included birdies on two of the final four holes.

Amateur Corey Knight (Avondale) rounds out the Top-5, finishing solo fifth after carding a 2-under 70 in the final round to finish 10-under for the tournament.

Wrapping up the Top-10 at Oakcreek Country Club include Jim Carter (Scottsdale), who shot 69 in the final round and finished sixth at 9-under par; Scott Foster (Anthem) and Dave Aksamit (Phoenix), who finished T7 at 8-under par; Champions Tour vet R.W. Eaks (Fountain Hills), who finished solo ninth at 7-under; and former ASU standout Braxton Marquez (Scottsdale), who shot a final-round 67 to finish 10th at 5-under par.

The Southwest Section PGA is the local delivery system for the PGA of America programs and activities to promote the game of golf in this region and to enhance the skills of its members. There are 41 PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Sections throughout the United States that provide a grass roots network necessary to accomplish direct communications with the nation’s 25 million amateur golfers and with the PGA’s 27,000 members. Ranked the fifth largest of the 41 PGA Sections, the Southwest Section PGA is a not-for-profit organization comprised of a membership of approximately 1,300 golf professionals and apprentices involved in the operations of almost 400 golf facilities in Arizona and Nevada.