Alex Cejka wins rain-shortened Web.com Tour opener in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Alex Cejka won the Web.com Tour's season-opening Colombia Championship on Sunday, breaking the course record with an 8-under 63 in the completion of the third round before rain washed out play.

The 43-year-old Czech-born German played the final 16 holes of the third round Sunday morning at water-logged Bogota Country Club, birdieing four of the last five holes to reach 14-under 199.

Cejka was halfway through the final round when play was suspended and the round wiped out. At the time, he had a one-stroke lead over Andrew Putnam.

"It's been a long time," Cejka said about the victory. "I had a feeling the rain might come again. I just tried to hang in there. I knew it was going to be tough this afternoon, so I was just grinding.

"Unlucky or lucky, depending on how you see it with the weather. It's nice to win. It doesn't matter on what tour these days because there are so many great players."

Cejka won the last of his four European Tour titles in 2002. He's winless in 270 career starts on the PGA Tour, with career bests of a tie for second in the 2003 B.C. Open and a solo second in the 2004 International.

"When they announced it was going to be 54 holes, I was a little relieved," Cejka said. "I wanted to complete the round but I'm so happy to have won again."

Cejka earned $135,000.

Putnam ended up three strokes back after a third-round 68. Mexico's Carlos Ortiz was third at 10 under after a 67, and Bill Lunde followed at 9 under after a 70. Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer's grandson, finished with a 69 to join Chris Wilson (70) and Justin Thomas (71) at 8 under.