Nationwide Tour Players Cup

BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. -- D.A. Points made things interesting on Sunday but held on to claim the inaugural $600,000 Pete Dye West Virginia Classic presented by National Mining Association.

Points, who earned a 23-under 265 total, finished five strokes in front of Nick Cassini for his third career win on the Nationwide Tour.

"I got a little in my own way today," said Points, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. "But I proved I have a lot of heart by not folding when I was faced with adversity on the front nine. Luckily for me the roller heated up on the back nine."

After starting the tournament two strokes behind first-round leader Nick Watney, Points took control of the tournament with a course-record 10-under 62 and six-stroke lead on Friday. He held that same margin after the third round but watched it quickly dwindle to two strokes after bogeys on Nos. 2 and 7. Birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 17 extended his lead to five shots, however, and helped him to victory.

"Friday night I had trouble sleeping because I was so excited," said Points. "I was so excited because I felt I was going to win this week. I had to slap myself back into reality."

The victory is the second of the season for Points, who has now finished inside the top two in three of his past four starts. After finishing second at the LaSalle Bank Open in early June, Points won the following week at the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic, withdrew from The Reese's Cup Classic and notched his second win here this week.

"It has been quite a run for me the past couple of months," said Points, who was named the Nationwide Tour Player of the Month based on his performances in Chicago and Scranton.

With the victory, he jumps from No. 8 to No. 1 on the official money list with $290,896 and overtakes Brendan Jones by $338. The former University of Illinois standout has now earned more this season than in his previous three campaigns on Tour ($290,320).

"This feels great," said Points. "I've definitely locked up my card for next year. I can freewheel it now."

Cassini (68) made a late charge with four birdies in his last seven holes, but eventually ran out of holes.

"What can you do when a guy decides to shoot 23 under on this golf course?" said Cassini, who earned $64,800 for his best career showing on the Nationwide Tour. "That is pretty tough to beat. I tried to make a run at him at the end but he was just too solid."

Darron Stiles finished in solo third place after posting a 3-under 69.

"Seventeen under," said Stiles. "I can't be ashamed with that. I just ran into a guy who was lighting it up this week."

The Nationwide Tour heads north of the border next week for the Samsung Canadian PGA Championship, the 18th of 31 official events of the season.