Kelly snags another top-10 finish

Book another top 10 for Mr. Hawaii.

Crowd favorite Jerry Kelly, who will turn 50 this year, continues to show no signs of slowing down at Waialae Country Club after posting his third consecutive top-10 finish at the Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday.

Kelly fired a 3-under 67 to finish in a group of four at 13 under that featured another past champion in 2009 winner Zach Johnson.

Kelly, who notched his win here in 2002, now has nine top-10 finishes in his past 17 appearances at a course that has netted him more than $2.6 million in career winnings.

“Obviously I like it here and playing so well I get fired up,” Kelly said. “Did I leave a lot out there, of course I did, everyone did, but honestly I just enjoy coming out here and playing.”

Kelly, Johnson and 2010 winner Ryan Palmer started the day 10 under and ultimately would have needed to shoot 60 to get into a playoff with eventual winner Fabian Gomez and runner-up Brandt Snedeker.

Experience at Waialae didn’t make much of a difference as Snedeker was playing here for the first time since 2008 and Gomez was making only his fourth appearance in the event.

Johnson was done in by an even-par 70 on Saturday while Palmer struggled with the putter and couldn’t shoot lower than 66.

Kelly shot a 69 in the third round but made only three bogeys the entire week.

“I’m just starting to get strong in some of the parts of my body to actually do what my coach has been wanting me to do,” said Kelly, who always spends a week practicing on the Big Island before playing the tournament on Oahu. “The strength I’ve been building up has actually turned over to me actually being able to swing it.”

Of the nine former champions to play this week, Kelly was the furthest removed from his title, yet tied with Johnson for the best finish among the group.

Jimmy Walker, who had won the past two, and Palmer were two of 15 golfers to finish at 12 under in a tie for 13th.

Vijay Singh, the 2005 winner and first round co-leader, joined KJ Choi, the ’08 champion, in a group at 8 under tied for 50th place.

Johnson Wagner, Russell Henley and Mark Wilson failed to make the cut.