Longtime friend and rival Wes McNulty gave Chris Jenkins the nickname "Mr. Fourth of July" last year when Jenkins won a record seventh Fourth of July Classic at War Memorial Golf Course.
Maybe McNulty can help with a new moniker, since this year's tournament was won on Labor Day, two months after its regular date, because new greens were being installed.
Jenkins rallied from six shots down after eight holes Monday to win his eighth championship and become the first player to win the tournament three times in a row since current PGA Tour veteran Ken Duke did it from 1991-1993.
Jenkins, 46, made six birdies on the back nine, including four consecutive, for a 5-under 59 to finish at 13 under and defeat second-round leader Beau Glover, whose six-shot lead over Jenkins slowly crumbled Monday on his way to a 3-over 67.
"I really didn't think entering today that it was in the cards," Jenkins said of his two-shot victory. "I thought Beau would shoot a few under par and that would be it. Beau has become a good friend of mine through the years, and I think the world of his family. I truly never imagined winning this after the way he played the first two days."
Glover, 31, was 14 under after Sunday's second round, including a 10-under 54 on Saturday. The three-time tournament runner-up could never get on track Monday, bogeying the first and third holes, then making a double bogey at the par-3 ninth hole to make the turn four shots ahead of Jenkins and three over Tracy Harris, who began the round eight behind Glover.
"It just seemed like everything Chris hit went in today and everything I hit didn't," Glover said. "I'm pretty disappointed. This one is going to sting a while."
Glover walked to the back nine carrying a reasonable lead, but also knowing he had made a single birdie on a front side that he was a combined 9 under the first two days.
Jenkins, who bogeyed No. 1 and made eight consecutive pars, birdied the par-4 10th, starting a stretch during which he birdied five of six holes. All three made par-3s at the 11th, and Jenkins dialed into his four-hole birdie run to go from three shots down to one shot ahead when Glover hiccuped for bogey at the par-3, 14th.
"I did nothing on the front side, basically hitting the ball well and made nothing to show for it," Jenkins said. "Going down 10, I told myself I could shoot just even par today or I could shoot 6 under on the backside. Well, I made the one at 10, then another on 12, then made some of the best birdies I have ever made at 13 and 14, then another on 15."
Glover's last-gasp birdie attempt slid by on 18, and Jenkins stepped up and knocked home an 8-footer for the two-stroke victory. Jenkins called that birdie, "the cherry on top" of his 6-under 26 on the back nine.
"I remember back when my brother Bruce won this, he shot something ungodly on the back nine so I knew it could be done," said Jenkins who was six behind going into the final round then shot a 56 in 1995 to win his first Fourth of July Classic. "I was just able to pour on the coals when I needed to today. This was about as much fun as I have had out here."
McNulty rallied back from a 2-over 66 on Sunday when he shanked a ball off a War Memorial Stadium wall on the No. 17 tee box to finish tied for second with Glover at 11 under. He shot 9-under 55 on Monday, which included a hole-in-one at the 137-yard, 16th.
Harris, 53, was eligible to play in the Mid-Senior Division, but because he had player of the year honors already sewn up there, he played this weekend in the Championship Division where he finished fourth at 10 under. Monday's round of 60 included three birdies, a bogey and an eagle at the par-5, 12th.
"I thought I had a big mountain to climb coming into today," Harris said. "Eight shots is a lot of golf to make up, but I really liked the way I played. Anytime you shoot 4 under on the final day playing alongside these guys, it's a good day."
The day, though, belonged to Jenkins, who like the others in the 62-player field, had to sit through a two-month delay for new greens to be installed and ready to play at War Memorial. Jenkins said no matter the date, playing that course and winning the 80th annual tournament were well worth the wait.
"I just enjoy playing out here no matter what time of the year it is," he said. "This course is very dear to me and obviously one of my favorites."
Sports on 09/06/2016