Leonard stumbled after the turn and finished with a 72 that left him three shots back in second. One shot behind heading into the final hole, Leonard hit into the water on 18 at the Classic Club and took a bogey 6.

Trahan birdied the last hole to finish the 90-hole tournament at 26-under 334 for his biggest payday, $918,000, and the right to play in this year's Masters.

Kenny Perry, the 1995 Hope champion, and 22-year-old Anthony Kim, who played high school golf in nearby La Quinta, shot 69s to tie for third at 338.

The 27-year-old Trahan, who had won just once before on the tour, was steady down the stretch while the 35-year-old Leonard, a former British Open champion who has won 10 times, had his problems.

Trahan turned what had threatened to be a runaway into a race when he picked up four shots over three holes beginning at No. 9. Trahan birdied the ninth and 10th holes, then parred No. 11 while Leonard got a par on 9 and bogeys on both 10 and 11.

Each parred the next two holes, then Trahan moved a shot in front with a birdie on No. 14 that put him at 25 under. He rolled in a 5-footer for birdie on the final hole to cap his round, then seemed rather subdued as he waved to the gallery.

Trahan, a former Clemson All-American, got his first tour win at Madison, Miss., in 2006.

Leonard had a fourth-round 66 to pull ahead of Trahan and Robert Gamez by four shots. Trahan shot a 70 on the fourth day. He was tied with Gamez for the lead after 36 holes.

Gamez shot a closing 74 to finish in a tie for 16th at 343.