Waste Management Phoenix Open 2012 Results: Kyle Stanley Earns Sweet Redemption

The roles were reversed for Kyle Stanley this week and that was probably for the best. Just one week ago, Stanley blew a three-shot lead on the 72nd hole, carding an eight to drop into a tie for first. He entered into a playoff with Brandt Snedeker, then proceeded to lose a tournament he held a firm grasp on all week.

This time around, it was Stanley reeling in the man in first after three rounds. Heading into the final 18 holes, Spencer Levin held a six-shot lead over the field at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, but suffered a fate somewhat similar to Stanley.

As Stanley motored along, finishing at 6-under for the day, Levin faded fast, limping to the finish line at 4-over for the day. Stanley’s final round was good for a one-shot win -- a bit of sweet, almost immediate redemption -- while Levin had to settle for a third-place finish. In between the two was Ben Crane, who carded a 5-under 66 in the final round to finish at 14-under for the tournament, one shot off the pace.

The reversal of fortune for Stanley was striking. A week after a back-nine collapse and 18th hole 8, Stanley did not card a bogey in the final round, finishing with six birdies and a clean card. It’s always more fun when the guy who falls apart one week bounces right back and engineers a big comeback the next to win.