CHAPPELL'S MAIDEN PGA TOUR WIN TAKES HIM TO WORLD NO.23
Week 16

Kevin Chappell made an 8-foot putt on the final hole to win the Valero Texas Open by one stroke on Sunday.

Bernd Wiesberger beat Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win the Shenzhen International on a dramatic final day at Genzon Golf Club.

Ryan Evans sealed a maiden European Challenge Tour victory as he prevailed in an epic tussle with Tapio Pulkkanen to win the Turkish Airlines Challenge by four shots at Gloria Golf Club.

24TH APRIL 2017 | 04:39 AM

PGA Tour – Valero Texas Open

Kevin Chappell made an 8-foot putt on the final hole to win the Valero Texas Open by one stroke on Sunday.

Chappell had a 4-under 68 in the final round to finish at 12 under for the tournament, edging Brooks Koepka at TPC San Antonio to earn his first PGA TOUR victory in his 180th career start.

"A big relief," the 30-year-old Chappell said. "There's been quite the monkey on my back for some time now about getting that first win. And to take that off and not have to answer those questions anymore is nice."

Koepka, a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year, was looking for his second PGA TOUR win. He had the best round of the day at 7-under 65. Before Chappell came down the 18th hole, Koepka had birdied the hole with a 3-foot putt to tie him.

"It's hard to win out here -- everybody knows that," Koepka said. "I'm knocking on the door to get my second win. It's nice for Kevin to get his first win. That's pretty cool."

Second-round co-leader Tony Finau got in a position to tie Koepka when he birdied four of five holes on the back nine. But his par-bogey finish left him to settle for a final-round 69 and a third-place tie with Kevin Tway (69) at 9-under.


European Tour - Shenzhen International

Bernd Wiesberger beat Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off to win the Shenzhen International on a dramatic final day at Genzon Golf Club.

Wiesberger entered round four with a three-shot lead and eight shots ahead of Fleetwood but the Englishman fired a stunning 63 to set the clubhouse target and share top spot at 16 under.

As most of the leading challengers fell back, Wiesberger made excellent par saves on the 12th and 17th and nearly hit the pin with his approach to the last but was forced to settle for a par and a trip back up the 18th in the pouring rain.

Wiesberger took the risky line over the water off the tee and ended up in the bank while Fleetwood played safely onto the fairway and found the heart of the green with his second.

Challenge Tour – Turkish Airlines Challenge

Ryan Evans sealed a maiden European Challenge Tour victory as he prevailed in an epic tussle with Tapio Pulkkanen to win the Turkish Airlines Challenge by four shots at Gloria Golf Club.The Englishman was paired with the Finn for the second day running, and with windy conditions in Belek preventing anyone further down the field from challenging, the tournament became a one-on-one battle over the last 18 holes.

Evans, who moves to second place in the Road to Oman Rankings with this win, never relinquished his overnight lead, pulling four shots clear with nine holes to play before nerves, and conditions, added to the back nine drama.

Web.com Tour - United Leasing & Finance Championship

Korea’s D.H. Lee survived windy conditions on the difficult Victoria National layout with a final-round 2-over 74 to capture the United Leasing & Finance Championship for his first career Web.com Tour victory. Lee edged out playing partner Jason Gore (72) by a shot with a par at the last to claim the title in southern Indiana.

Lee’s final-round 74 is the highest final round by a winner in tournament history, edging the 73 set by 2015 champion Smylie Kaufman. Lee, who finished at 6-under 282, was one of only four players who finished under par for the tournament.

“I really couldn’t believe it. I’m really happy,” Lee said, who doubled over with emotion on the 18th green after securing the title. “I didn’t get a win the last couple of years. I wasn’t nervous but I was just thinking about playing my game to make the win.”


Sunshine Tour - Zimbabwe Open

JC Ritchie saw off Trevor Fisher Jnr. on the second play-off hole at Royal Harare Golf Club to win the 2017 Zimbabwe Open.

After being seven-over-par after his first seven holes of the tournament, Ritchie bounced back with 29 birdies to tie Fisher on 16-under-par for the week.

“I actually started the week off quite rough. I was seven-over-par after seven holes. I made that eagle-two on the ninth and that’s where it turned around for me,” explained Ritchie.

Ritchie sealed the dramatic win with a right to left 13-foot putt on the 18th green, which epitomised his putting display during the week.

“That was unreal golf. I really enjoyed it and never really felt like I was out of contention. It was one of the best putting expositions I’ve had in my entire life,” he said.

Fisher started his final round strongly, however three bogeys in a row at the turn saw his three-shot lead disappear. An eagle at the par-five 16th saw him shoot back into a two-shot lead, but a double-bogey on the 17th made for a play-off with Ritchie.

“I felt last night that 63 today would definitely win by one. I didn’t expect Fish to make double on the 17th, he was playing unreal golf. When I got onto 15 tee box I knew I needed three more [birdies]. I hit an unreal second shot into 16 and lipped out for eagle,” Ritchie said.

The win is his first on the Sunshine Tour and it promises to set up a good run of form for the remainder of the season.


Japan & Asian Tour - Panasonic OPEN

Japan’s Kenichi Kuboya kept the Panasonic OPEN Japan trophy on home soil when he defeated compatriot Katsumasa Miyamoto at the first play-off hole on Sunday.

Victory at the ¥150 million (approximately US$1.37million) event was the first for the 45-year-old in five years and also provided him with much relief as he was facing the prospect of losing his winner’s exemption status on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this year.

Kuboya produced a final day heroics when he signed for a seven-under-par 64 to force a play-off with Miyamoto who compiled a four-day total of 11-under-par 273 at the Chiba Country Club.

Kuboya then gained the early advantage when Miyamoto hit his tee shot out of bounds at the first play-off hole.

After finding further trouble with his second tee shot which landed behind the tree and with Kuboya reaching the green in three, Miyamoto would concede defeat to Kuboya who could even afford to three-putt for a bogey to win.


Korean Golf Tour - The 13th Dongbu Insurance Promi Open

Dongseop Maeng won the The 13th Dongbu Insurance Promi Open earning 9 World ranking points moving to World No. 576.

PGA Tour LatinoAmerica - 86 Abierto OSDE del Centro presentado por FiberCorp

Nelson Ledesma grabs the win in the final round of the 2017 Abierto OSDE del Centro presentado por FiberCorp moving to World No. 752

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