Big money finish.

Byline: Steve Irvin The Register-Guard

JUNCTION CITY - Nothing has come easily for Matt Bettencourt in his professional golf career, so it makes perfect sense that his first Nationwide Tour victory wouldn't be a leisurely Sunday stroll around Shadow Hills Country Club.

Leading by four shots going into the par-5 15th hole in the final round, Bettencourt had to overcome two untimely bogeys and hard-charging Bubba Dickerson to win the Oregon Classic by two shots.

"It was a grind," Bettencourt said. "It's a big, big grind, but it's so worth it now."

Bettencourt, who was 5-under par through 13 holes of the final round, needed three pars down the stretch to close with a 3-under 69 and set the tournament record with a 19-under 269 total that eclipsed Jason Gore's 18-under mark from 2002.

The result was worth $94,500 and then some to Bettencourt, a 33-year-old from Greenville, S.C., who suffered a shoulder injury in 2007 and competed on the Tar Heel Tour after finishing 185th on the Nationwide money list in 2006.

"It's the greatest feeling," he said. "You dream about this. You don't know how you're going to react, how you're going to feel. a I'm on cloud million."

The thousands he won Saturday moved him from 53rd to 19th on the money list and within reach of the PGA Tour card that goes to the top 25 money-winners at the end of the season, which is now four tournaments away.

Dickerson, the 2001 U.S. Amateur champion, closed with a 68 and made Bettencourt earn every penny after Bettencourt built his lead to four shots with birdies on three of his first four holes on the back nine.

Bettencourt's bogey at the par-4 14th hole dropped his lead to three shots, and he encountered more potential disaster when his second shot on the 15th drifted right of the rough and settled among the flowers that border the tee box on the par-3 16th.

"When I hit it in the flower bed on 15, I thought, `Uh oh,'" said Bettencourt, who chipped on to the 16th tee with his third shot and then pitched on to the 15th green while Dickerson waited to attempt a 25-foot eagle putt.

Bettencourt fully expected Dickerson to make the putt, and after Dickerson obliged, he two-putted for a 6 that left him with a one-stroke lead that he held after the leaders traded pars on the 16th.

While the 15th was critical to Dickerson getting back into the race, the par-4 17th was the key to Bettencourt finally putting away the 27-year-old University of Florida product, who had his best finish ever on the Nationwide Tour.

"The key shot for me was the second shot into 17," Bettencourt said of the 6-iron that left him 12 feet from the hole. "One of the best shots I've ever hit in my life."

Dickerson felt nearly as pleased with his second shot, but it came up 40 feet short of the pin, eerily similar to the tee shot he hit on the 16th that looked perfect but plugged in the front bunker.

"I flagged it again, but it came up short," Dickerson said. "I don't know what the reason was. I hit them where I wanted to hit them, and that's all I can ask."

Dickerson's uphill birdie putt on 17 went past five feet, but he couldn't make the comebacker for par after Bettencourt's birdie attempt lipped out and went into the final hole down by two.

"The second putt was really squirrelly," Dickerson said. "I hit a bad putt. I'm not sure I read it right."

Dickerson had one last chance on the par-5 18th, but he lipped out his birdie putt after chipping within four feet and took the pressure off Bettencourt, who two-putted from 20 feet for the win.

"I figured I needed a three," said Dickerson, who finished one shot ahead of Spencer Levin (68-272) and two ahead of Bradley Iles (66-273) and Brian Smock (69-273).

"I wish I would have made him make that three-footer."

Bettencourt said he was glad he didn't have to.

"I ran it two feet by, which is normally not a big deal," he said, "but when it's for the championship, it puts some stress on you.

"He missed his putt, and that helped me out."

OREGON CLASSIC leaderboard 

FINAL RESULTS

Matt Bettencourt 65-70-65-69 -269

Bubba Dickerson 67-66-70-68 -271

Spencer Levin 68-70-66-68 -272

Brian Smock 68-68-68-69 -273

Bradley Iles 73-66-68-66 -273

NOTABLE

John Ellis 72-69-71-71 -283