SNEDEKER MOVES BACK INTO THE TOP 50
Week 33

Brandt Snedeker won the Wyndham Championship on Sunday for his ninth PGA TOUR title, four days after opening with an 11-under 59 moving back into the World Top 50 for the 4th time in his career.

In the final round of the 2018 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz, Sungjae Im went wire-to-wire on the Web.com regular season money list to earn his second career win, his PGA TOUR card and move to a career best of World No.90.


Paul Waring defeated Thomas Aiken in a play-off to win his first European Tour title at the Nordea Masters moving to World No. 165.

20TH AUGUST 2018 | 06:01 AM

PGA Tour - Wyndham Championship

Brandt Snedeker won the Wyndham Championship on Sunday for his ninth PGA TOUR title, four days after opening with an 11-under 59 moving back into the World Top 50 for the 4th time in his career.

Snedeker closed with a 65 for a three-stroke victory in the regular-season finale, breaking a tie with C.T. Pan on the final hole with a birdie and Pan's double bogey in the group ahead.

Snedeker finished at 21-under 259 for his first win since 2016 and his second at the tournament, but first at Sedgefield Country Club.

Pan shot a 66 to tie for second with Webb Simpson.

Simpson matched his career-best with a 62.

Snedeker opened the tournament with the 59 that made him the first tour player this year and just the 10th ever to break 60, then on the final day played 29 holes at 5 under to seal it.

He was never in danger of missing the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in his career, but the victory gave him a huge jump on the points list. He climbed 50 spots to No. 30 on the list, after arriving at 80th -- which would have been his lowest finish.

For a while, it looked like it might come down to a playoff between Pan and Snedeker, who were even at 20 under entering Pan's final hole.

But the 26-year-old from Taiwan ran into big trouble: Playing in the threesome immediately ahead of Snedeker, Pan shanked his tee shot out of bounds off a cart path down the right side of the fairway and needed four shots, including the penalty stroke, to reach the green on the par 4.

With the victory seemingly inevitable at that point, Snedeker sank a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th to end it.


Web.com Tour - WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz

In the final round of the 2018 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz, Sungjae Im goes wire-to-wire on the Web.com regular season money list to earn his second career win and his PGA TOUR card.

Sungjae Im won by four strokes and moves to a career best of World No. 90.


European Tour - Nordea Masters

Paul Waring defeated Thomas Aiken in a play-off to win his first European Tour title at the Nordea Masters.

The duo entered the final round at Hills Golf Club tied for the lead and could not be separated over 18 holes as they both fired rounds of 68 to get to 14 under on an enthralling afternoon in the rain in Gothenburg.

When they returned to the 18th tee, Aiken put his first shot in the water and a par from Waring saw him claim his maiden win at the 200th attempt.

German Maximilian Kieffer finished with three birdies in a 65 to sit at 13 under, one shot clear of in-form Dane Thorbjørn Olesen.

The victory is the pinnacle of a roller coaster career so far for Waring, who has had to overcome two major injuries since coming through the Qualifying School in 2007.

A wrist injury saw him miss large parts of the 2011 and 2012 seasons, while a shoulder problem meant he could only play 12 events over 2015 and 2016.

He achieved a career-best finish of 60th on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex last season and is now in position to go better than that in 2018.

“I'm ecstatic,” he said. “I wasn't ever sure this day would come in total honesty. I've tried so hard for many years to get to this point and it's nice to finally cross the line and be holding the trophy.

“It feels like it's all worth it. I've had a couple of operations along the way and it's nice to finally have got to this point. I'm sure that everyone back home will be absolutely thrilled for me. This is all for everyone back home as well.”


PGA Tour Canada - Players Cup

Tyler McCumber won for the third time in four starts, as the 27-year-old shot a 5-under 67 to finish at 22 under overall, two shots clear of the runner-up Gellerman.

The University of Florida product is 90 under par over his last 16 rounds, which has included consecutive wins at the Osprey Valley Open and Syncrude Oil Country Championship, as well as a third-place finish at the ATB Financial Classic. He needs one more win over the final two Mackenzie Tour events to match Dan McCarthy’s record of four victories in a season, set in 2016.

“I don’t know, I haven’t really thought about it that way,” McCumber said. “That’s really funny he said that. No, maybe in a very, very small way. I do feel confident, I do feel good in my game. I feel good in the process of getting ready for tournaments. And so I don’t know how that’s portrayed or how it’s seen, but it does feel good.”

McCumber began the day one shot ahead of Drew Weaver, but quickly distanced himself from the field with birdies on four of his first six holes. His lead grew to as many as five shots at one point, and he officially put the tournament out of reach with one final birdie on the par-5 No. 16. He did not record a bogey over his final 55 holes.

“I was fortunate to come out of the gates early and get some momentum going my way,” he said. “I had a couple birdies there and then kind of just kept it going.”

McCumber’s win keeps him atop the Order of Merit for a third consecutive week, as he now leads all players with $135,700. He is almost $60,000 ahead of Zach Wright, who sits in second place with $75,880.

PGA Tour of Australasia - MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship

Starting the day three shots off the lead, Nisbet knew he needed a low round to win his second title on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2018.

Firing 8-under 63 was enough to hand the Queenslander a two-shot win with a tournament total 19-under 265.

“I am pretty excited, it has been a long few days out in this heat, so its relief, exhaustion, excitement,” said Nisbet who claimed a share of the lead after the 10th hole today.

“I got off to a good start today like I have all week, but the back-9 really helped me today. I hit a couple close in there and holed some putts which were the difference from the last few days.”

“I heard a few whispers about the scores so I knew what was happening throughout the day. I knew that I needed to keep playing well because if I didn’t go low someone else would.”

Having won the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in March and earning full status on the Asian Tour, Nisbet travelled to the Top End looking to secure his lead on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

He currently holds an almost AU$28,000 margin over Anthony Quayle with the pair eyeing the opportunities on offer from an Order of Merit victory.

“This definitely helps the Order of Merit. In my situation I need to get as much money up as I can to prevent being run down at the end of the year,” added Nisbet.

“Hopefully this gives me a good boost and I have a solid finish to the year so I can get some more international tour starts at the end of the year.”


Sunshine Tour - Vodacom Origins of Golf – Zebula

Zander Lombard finally got over the line when he claimed his first Sunshine Tour title after defeating Jake Roos in the first playoff hole of the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Zebula Golf Estate and Spa on Saturday.

Both players had finished on 10-under-par 206 for the tournament, with both shooting 66s in the final round but Roos made a bogey while Lombard’s par was enough to see him through.

“The weather played into my favour today,” he said after his six-under 66 final round. “I got out there early and made a few early birdies and I just kept the ball rolling. But in the afternoon the wind really started picking up but luckily, I came out with the win.”

Going into the final round six shots off the pace set by Daniel van Tonder, Lombard went birdie, par and birdie in his opening three holes, and five pars later, he picked up another birdie to turn in 33. His back nine was just as solid despite the bogey he made on the tricky par-three 17th. That, however, was insignificant in relation to the four birdies he picked up coming home.

“I was driving it phenomenally this week,” he said of his mindset going into the playoff with Roos whose track record for winning titles on a playoff is there for all to see. “So, I just hit a fantastic tee shot down the centre of the fairway, hit a pretty easy four-iron into the middle of the green after Jake had to lay up. I was just thinking ‘play the best shot’.”

Having come so close to winning on so many occasions, including the 2016 Joburg Open, Lombard recognises that his was a long overdue victory. “It’s amazing,” he said, “it’s my first Sunshine Tour victory. It’s been a long time coming because I have had a few close ones but just could not clinch the title. It’s a relief off my shoulders and hopefully, I keep this confidence and momentum going forward.”

Challenge Tour - Galgorm Resort & Spa Northern Ireland Open, presented by Modest! Golf

Calum Hill soared up the leaderboard with a closing 64 to claim his maiden European Challenge Tour title in dramatic fashion at the Galgorm Resort and Spa NI Open, presented by Modest! Golf.

The Scot started the day four shots behind overnight co-leaders Scott Henry and Victor Perez and began to climb the leaderboard immediately by driving the green on the 336-yard par four second before going on to hole the eagle putt.

After reaching the turn in 33 Hill made his move over the back nine, reeling off four birdies in eight holes before narrowly missing an eagle putt on the 18th.

The 23 year old tapped in for birdie to reach 19 under par overall, and after Henry dropped four shots over his closing three holes it was Hill who was crowned champion.

Making just his fifth Challenge Tour start this week, Hill admitted he was lost for words following his one-shot triumph.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “On the stretch I was hitting a few great shots and was holing a few great putts but I thought it would be for second or third place – not for the victory.

“I really narrowly missed a putt on 18 for eagle which was just hanging over the edge – I thought that would make it interesting as Scott was 22 under when I was going down 17 and I made a birdie to get to 18 under. I didn’t even think it would be close.

“It didn’t even cross my mind as I was playing 18. I hit two nice shots and just tried to give the putter a run, and thought it was a nice finish to a great nine holes.

“With the par five 18th to play I honestly thought Scott had a chance of winning still, and I wasn’t thinking that I would be the champion.

“I came into the week trying to just rise up the Rankings as much as I could and at the end of the season keep my card as this is just my fifth start on the Challenge Tour and I’m playing on invites.

“So to now have a category and have everything sorted is a bit of a joke – it’s absolutely brilliant isn’t it?

Nordic Golf League - Holtsmark Open

Jacob Glennemo moves to a career best of World No. 524 with Holtsmark Open victory, his second win this season.


Korean Golf Tour - DONG-A Membership Exchange Group Busan Open

Taehoon Kim won the DONG-A Membership Exchange Group Busan Open, moving from 1537 TO World No. 638.

Asian Development Tour - Taifong Open

Chinese Taipei's Chan Shih-chang clinched his sixth Asian Development Tour (ADT) title at the Taifong Open on Sunday to equal the record of most ADT wins.

The 32-year-old Chan carded a bogey-free four-under-par 68 to triumph by two shots with a winning total of 13-under-par 275 at the Taifong Golf Course. He and close friend Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand, now hold the joint record for the most number of wins on the ADT.

Thailand’s Chinnarat Phadungsil and Han Lee of the United States settled for second place after signing for matching 66s at the US$160,000 ADT event.

Wearing his lucky polka-dot shirt, Chan won the Taifong Open for the third time in his career. In 2010, he won the event on the local circuit and was victorious again in 2014 when the tournament was sanctioned by the ADT.

He took advantage of an overnight two-shot lead and was rewarded for his safe approach in the final round where he opted to use his three-wood off the tees on most holes.

“I played it safe today because I missed quite a number of fairways this week. So, I took out my three-wood on a lot of holes just to keep it in in play. I was nervous but the home crowds really encouraged me to push forward so I am very grateful for their support,” said Chan.

He was delighted to match the winning record set by Pavit earlier this year when the latter won the Betagro Championship in Thailand in May.

“Pavit is one of my closest friends on Tour and I am happy to be holding the record of the ADT with him. It has been a great week and to bring the trophy back home is very special,” added Chan, who is also a two-time Asian Tour winner.


Asian Development Tour – PGM Labuan Championship

Malaysia’s Shahriffudin Ariffin staged a late comeback by powering home with a final round three-under-par 69 to win his maiden Asian Development Tour (ADT) title by two shots at the PGM Labuan Championship on Saturday.

Shahriffudin started the day two shots back of overnight leader Rizal Amin in third position at the Labuan International Golf Club but stormed with home with an eagle and two birdies in his last five holes to win the RM225,000 (approximately US$58,000) ADT event with his four-day total of seven-under-par 281.

Nicholas Fung, a one-time Asian Tour winner, signed off with a 69 to take second place while Rizal had a day to forget when he mixed his card with four bogeys and two birdies to end the week in third place.

“This is a very special win for me as it’s my first ADT victory and it means a lot to me. This is not an easy course and my iron play has been very solid all week. That really helped,” said Shahriffudin.

The 18-year-old did not think much of his chances after he dropped a shot on the fifth hole and could not get any birdies in his outward nine.

However, his round came alive starting with his eagle-three on 14 before he gained another advantage with a birdie on 15.

A closing birdie on 18 would eventually confirm his entry into the winner’s circle.

“I tried not to think too much about whether I can win at the start of the day but as the round progressed, I felt my confidence growing and told myself maybe this could be it and I can win. I’m happy I did it,” said Shariffudin.


EuroPro Tour - The FORE Business Championship

Tim Rice carded the lowest round of the final day to clinch his first title of the season at the HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour’s “FORE” Business Championship at East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa.

Rice (Limerick Golf Club) started the day five shots back behind leader Matt Cort (Beedles Lake Golf Club) and needed to string some birdies together in order to climb the board and apply some pressure on those ahead. Going out in 34 the Irishman was in a decent position but was still four shots behind Cort who still lead the way at the turn.

However, a blemish-free back nine with four birdies including a superb 12 feet putt from the fringe on the last put Rice in the clubhouse with an overall score of eleven-under par. Cort’s back nine was a completely different story, three bogeys over his final four holes pulled the 2016 Order of Merit Winner back to eight-under par and tied for fourth.

Rice, reflecting on his first EuroPro Tour title of the season, said: “I’m surprised that I won, I really didn’t expect it and it will take a little while to settle in. It’s a real bonus.

“It’s always easier coming from behind, you’re in a position where you’re allowed to just go for it out there and take the risks that the guys out in front can’t necessarily make.

“It wasn’t until the 15ththat I started to think that I could win, I holed a birdie putt and realised that if I could hold on I would be in with a great chance. I could see I was level with Matt at the time and heading down the 18thI just went for it with my approach shot, I wouldn’t normally have gone at the flag but that was the difference between me winning and not today.”


ProGolf Tour - Starnberg Open

With rounds of 66, 67 and 66 strokes, a total of 14 under par, the Professional from Friedrichshafen, Daniel Wuensche, secured himself the trophy of the Starnberg Open 2018.

On the par 71 golf course of GC Starnberg in Bavaria, the 32-year-old relegated the two Frenchmen Julien de Poyen and Jean-Matthieu Houdayer on rank 2; both carded a total 13 under par for the tournament.

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