There are a few reasons Canadian Nick Taylor is No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

At the top of the list: Clutch shot-making.

Taylor, a University of Washington senior-to-be, birdied the second-hardest hole Friday in the final round of the 15th Sahalee Players Championship – the downhill 211-yard, par-3 17th over a pond – and captured the title at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish.

None of the contenders posted under-par rounds, but Taylor's 1-over-par 73 was good enough to chase down overnight leader Eddie Olson (77) and Australian Daniel Nisbet (75), whom he was tied with heading to the 17th hole.

Taylor made only the day's fourth birdie while Nisbet made a par. Taylor sank a 25-foot putt from the back plateau of the green, and Nisbet missed a 6-foot birdie attempt.

Both birdied the par-5 finishing hole.

The Husky star finished the championship at 6-under 282, one stroke ahead of Nisbet (283) and two ahead of Olson (284). Defending champion Trent Whitekiller, of Sallisaw, Okla., was in a group in fifth at 288.

Lacey's Cameron Peck (74) placed tied for 28th at 299, and University Place's Andrew Putnam (78) was alone in 54th at 309.