FARMINGTON — Rob McClellan works on his golf game when he can.

He'll spend an hour before a tournament round hitting balls off a tee and working on his short game.

He'll tear himself away from his work as the head professional at Butler Country Club to sink a few putts on the practice green.

Time is precious to McClellan, the father of a 4-year-old daughter, Leah, and a son, Levi, 2.

Luckily for McClellan his game doesn't need much work these days.

McClellan shot a 74 Tuesday on the Mystic Rock Course at Nemacolin in the third and final round of the Falling Rock Classic to win the Tri-State PGA event. He finished the tournament with a 6-under 210.

McClellan entered the final round with a four-stroke lead over Bob Ford and a seven-stroke advantage over three other players, including John Aubrey Sr. of Aubrey's Dubbs Dred.

"It was pretty much a two-man race," McClellan said. "I just went into the round thinking, 'Don't make any big numbers.'"

He didn't. Just average numbers would do after he sizzled in the first two rounds, putting up a 68 each day to build his sizable lead.

McClellan said his biggest obstacle was himself. Sometimes, he said, playing with a lead is much more difficult than chasing the leader on the final day of a tournament.

"Sometimes you can play overly cautious," McClellan said. "And that can lead to big numbers."

McClellan won the event by three strokes to earn the top prize of $15,000. Aubrey finished tied for ninth after a shooting a 75 in the final round.

The Mystic Rock Course has always been one of McClellan's favorite places to play — and it shows.

He captured the event at the course last year. Two years ago, he finished second.

"Defending the championship is a thrill," McClellan said.

It's been a great four weeks for McClellan, who soared up the leaderboard in the final round of the PGA Professional National Championship June 30 to finish in the top 15 and to qualify for the 92nd PGA Championship, which will begin Aug. 12 at Whistling Straights in Kohler, Wis.

McClellan is playing some of the best golf of his career with limited practice.

"I don't believe you have to beat golf balls all day long," McClellan said. "I'm striking the ball really well right now. There's nothing I really need to work on."

If there was, McClellan said he would find time to iron it out, as he did after his third round when he hit "between 40 and 50 drives," McClellan said. "I wasn't really good getting off the tee."

But McClellan has been good at getting the ball in the hole.

His putting, which has been a trouble spot at times, has been carrying him recently.

"You can hit the ball badly, but make your putts, and you can post good numbers," McClellan said. "You can strike the ball well, miss putts, and put up bad numbers. That's just how it works sometimes."

McClellan's next stop will be Whistling Straights, where he will squeeze in some practice rounds before returning in August.

To stay sharp in the meantime, he will do what he always has done: play in tournaments. No amount of practice rounds can prepare a golfer for the pressures of a tournament, McClellan said.

"I don't play too many rounds of golf for fun."