RENO, Nev. -- Kirk Triplett's second victory in 14 years on the PGA Tour couldn't have been much sweeter.
The former University of Nevada player shot a 9-under 63 Sunday for a three-stroke victory over Tim Herron in the Reno-Tahoe Open.
In addition to tying both the course and tournament records, the $540,000 winner's check made him only the 39th player in tour history to surpass the $10 million mark in career earnings -- a figure he says he can't comprehend.
"That number, I can't wrap my arms around it," said Triplett, 41, who graduated from college in 1985 with a degree in civil engineering.
"When I was taking geology classes up there at UNR, I thought maybe I could get out as a geological engineer or a petroleum engineer and make $50,000 a year, which was a great starting salary in 1985," he said.
"I still feel like the old geezer out here now talking to some of these guys, "You know, when we played, it was a $700,000 purse, not $700,000 for the winner! We didn't have courtesy cars. We drove up hill both ways,' that sort of thing.
"I think most of us would be playing if it was $10, or 10 cents, or $10,000. We play because it's just what we like to do and we can make enough money to support our families."
Triplett charged from behind with nine birdies Sunday -- four in a row on the front nine -- to become the second player on tour to win in his college hometown this year. The other was University of Houston alum Fred Couples in the Houston Open in April.
"I knew I had an outside shot going into today, but you don't have a 63 in your mind realistically," Triplett said.
"I had tremendous support from all the folks in the gallery out there hollering. Every couple of holes I could see someone I knew. It was just very comfortable for me out there."
It's the second year in a row a player with Nevada ties has won the tourney. Former UNLV star Chris Riley won in a playoff last year at the Montreux Golf and Country Club.
Herron shot a 71 to finish second at 14-under 274, a stroke ahead of Dennis Paulson, who shot a final-round 68, and Rod Pampling, who birdied the 18th for a 69.
Known for his patented "bucket" golf hat, Triplett started the day at 8 under, five strokes behind co-leaders Herron and Craig Barlow.
Triplett withdrew from the PGA Championship a week ago with a back injury and it flared up again Saturday, when he shot a 73. But he got off to a fast start Sunday and went ahead with his sixth birdie on the 10th hole after shooting a 31 on the front nine.
"When the putts go in, nothing hurts," said Triplett, who claimed his first PGA Tour win in the 2000 Nissan Open and entered the week ranked 19th on the money list this year with $1.3 million.
He dropped a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie the course record that Notah Begay III set in winning the inaugural event in 1999 and was tied by Brian Henninger the following year.
His total of 17-under 271 tied the mark John Cook set in winning in 2001 and was equaled last year by Riley and Jonathan Kaye before Riley won the playoff.
Herron noticed Triplett was playing well when they were tied at 13 under about midway through the round.
"I heard a lot of screams ahead of me," Herron said. "Yeah, I missed an opportunity, but a guy shot a 63. That's good golf."
Triplett birdied eight of 11 holes during one stretch, including four in a row starting with a 10-foot putt for a three on the 429-yard, par-4 third. He reached the green in two on the par-5 fourth and two-putted for birdie, followed by birdie putts of 23 and 13 feet on the next two holes.
He followed a 329-yard drive on the 494-yard, par-4 10th with a 170-yard approach shot to just 2 feet for another birdie, made a 17-footer for birdie on the par-5 11th and dropped another from 7 feet on the par-4 13th to get to 16 under.
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