Guthrie wins Boise, locks up PGA Tour card

• By Ryan Lavner
• Sep 16, 2012 7:08 PM ET

In a span of three months, Luke Guthrie has gone from a college senior competing at the NCAA Championship to one of the game’s brightest up-and-comers who already has locked up his 2013 PGA Tour card.

With a near-flawless weekend at the Web.com Tour’s Albertsons Boise Open, the 22-year-old Guthrie closed with a 6-under 65 Sunday to win by four strokes. He finished at 22-under 262, setting a tournament record.

It was Guthrie’s fifth top 10 in six starts on the developmental circuit, and at No. 4 on the Web.com Tour money list, he’s clinched his PGA Tour card for next season. (In three PGA Tour starts this season, Guthrie has finished no worse than T-19, earning $284,672.)

“I’ve been in this situation a few times now,” Guthrie said, “so I’m happy to finally come through and win a tournament.”

On Saturday at Hillcrest Country Club, Guthrie parred the final three holes in the third round and still shot 9-under 62. He continued his superb play in the final round, making birdie on No. 2 and eagle on the third to leapfrog overnight leader Michael Putnam and vault into the lead.

Already, another member of the Class of 2012, Virginia’s Ben Kohles, has locked up his Tour card, too.

Now that he’s accomplished his goal of winning and securing his playing privileges for next season, Guthrie can return to hitting the books. He needs 13 more credits to earn a degree in business management.

“It was an awesome day,” Guthrie said.