Parker McLachlin has long wanted to win the hometown PGA Tour event, especially because it's at the Waialae Country Club, where he once worked for minimum wage just to get practice privileges.

"That's something I've always dreamt about growing up at this golf course," McLachlin said. "That dream almost came true."

K.J. Choi put Parker's dream on hold for another year by winning the Sony Open in Hawai'i yesterday. But McLachlin felt "pretty awesome," nevertheless, about his top-10 finish at 70—274 that earned him $113,571 in the first full-field tournament of the year.

It's a great way to start the season, according to the 28-year-old Punahou School alum.

"I think this is a good confidence boost for me to really know I can compete and win out here. That time is coming," he said.

Not bad for someone who was feeling under the weather.

"I hadn't been feeling well all week, but it kind of hit me this morning," McLachlin said. "I wasn't feeling great. I was just grinding it out. (But) you've got to fight through it when you're in a decent position."

It showed as his game wasn't as sharp as the previous two days when he posted rounds of 66 and 65.

Yesterday he hit only nine greens in regulation and was only 5 of 14 in fairway accuracy.

"It was just a short game exhibition out there. Fortunately, I know every place to miss it out here. I just got it up and down from everywhere. It seemed like I was one-putting every hole," said McLachlin, who had 11 one-putts for the day and didn't three-putt all week.

"It's just tough when you're not at a 100 percent. You're asking your body to do something it can't.

"I'm proud the way I fought through it," he said. "I think the fans and everybody that was out there really got me through today. As I'm walking up the fairway, people saying, 'Go, Parker,' really helped my spirit. (But) I'm ready to take a 24-hour nap."

McLachlin finally started a round without a bogey and got a good save on the next hole when he could advance his fairway bunker shot from a downhill lie only 50 yards. But he went up and down from 98 yards, sinking an 8-footer for par.

Trouble caught up with him at the par-4 third where he suffered his only double-bogey all week when he splashed his second shot into the water guarding the green.

"The rough was a little thick. It just turned the club over and it went straight into the water," McLachlin said. "You never want to give two shots back, especially in the final round. Fortunately, I made a few birdies on the last 10 holes. That sort of seems like my MO (modus operandi) for the week. But I'm happy the way I finished, especially on the last hole."

McLachlin two-putted from the front fringe for a birdie for his best finish in a PGA Tour event since a tie for fifth in the Turning Stone Resort Championship last year.

The Sunday walk up the 18th fairway and the applause he received was quite a thrill, according to McLachlin, who doffed his cap in appreciation.

"I was able to enjoy the walk and embrace all the aloha that everyone was giving me," said McLachlin, the only one of five Hawai'i golfers to survive the 36-hole cut.

"It's a great experience for me just to have the entire state of local people that were behind me this weekend. It's really special for me."

Someday, he hopes, it'll be even more special when his dream of winning at Waialae comes true.