Novak bags 1st solo PGA Tour win

MEXICO CITY — Andrew Novak cruised to victory at the Mexico Open on Sunday, firing a two-under 69 to win by five strokes and claim his first individual title on the PGA Tour.

The 31-year-old American converted his commanding overnight lead into a comfortable victory at Vidanta Vallarta with three straight birdies on the back nine.

Novak, whose only previous tour victory came at last year's Zurich Classic pairs event alongside Ben Griffin, finished on a tournament record 25-under-par 259.

"It is nice to get one. Obviously, I loved Zurich and everything about that tournament — it's so fun — but it is nice to have one by myself too," Novak said.

"This is one I've been working for for a while."

Leading by six going into the final day, Novak started his final round steadily, with seven pars, before a birdie on the eighth.

He had a slight stumble at the turn, missing a four-foot putt on 10 for his first bogey since Friday.

But he snuffed out any hope for the chasing pack with a string of three consecutive birdies from the 12th onward.

That included a 14-foot putt on the par-three 13th, and then a huge 44-foot roller on the 14th green that boosted his lead back to five over Doug Ghim.