Another First Time Winner on the PGA Tour
Going into this week, there have already been seven first time winners on the PGA Tour in the 2013 season. It started week one with Russell Henley’s victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Since then, six other golfers have recorded their first career victories on tour including Michael Thompson at the Honda Classic at PGA National and Billy Horschel and Derek Ernst in back-to-back weeks at the Zurich Classic and Wells Fargo Championship. Number eight can now be added to the list, as Sang-Moon Bae won his first event on the PGA tour this past weekend at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
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It was the third 1st time PGA Tour winner in last four events, this one coming at the TPC Four Seasons in Irving, Texas. Bae won by two shots over Tequesta resident Keegan Bradley. Bradley, the leader after 18, 36, and 54 holes was looking to become the first wire-to-wire winner at the Byron Nelson Championship since Tom Watson did it in 1980. After breaking the course record by shooting a 60 on Thursday, Bradley entered the final round with a one shot lead over Bae. Like he did the previous three days, Bae continued to chip away at Bradley’s lead. After carding three straight rounds of 66, Bae shot a one-under 69 on Sunday.
Playing together in the final pairing, Bae took the lead from Bradley on the par 4 third hole when he carded a birdie and Bradley carded a bogey. Bae birdied hole 5, 6, and 7 consecutively to stretch his lead to four shots. After a double bogey six on nine and a bogey on the par four 10th, the lead went back down to just one stroke. Bradley got back to even on the 15th hole after he carded a birdie and Bae carded a bogey but could not regain the lead. He missed a short birdie putt on 16 and bogeyed 17 as Bae went on to clinch his first PGA tour victory to go with his 11 international wins.
Old Palm resident Charl Schwartzel shot a final round 68 to finish third at 10-under. The 2011 Masters champion moved into the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings with the third place finish.
For a complete final leaderboard from the HP Byron Nelson Classic, visit www.pgatour.com.
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