05/05/24 06:56:00
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05/05 18:54 CDT Taylor Pendrith gets 1st PGA Tour win at Byron Nelson after
final-hole collapse from Ben Kohles
Taylor Pendrith gets 1st PGA Tour win at Byron Nelson after final-hole collapse
from Ben Kohles
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
McKINNEY, Texas (AP) --- Taylor Pendrith tried his best to ignore Ben Kohles'
final-hole meltdown, focusing on the eagle putt that the Canadian thought he
might have to make even to force a playoff as he walked toward the 18th green.
Several stunning minutes later, a 3-footer for birdie gave Pendrith his first
PGA Tour victory.
Kohles overtook Pendrith with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 for a one-shot lead,
then bogeyed the 18th after hitting his second shot into greenside rough.
Already in shock following two chips from the rough --- the second with his
feet in a bunker --- Kohles missed a 6-foot putt that would have forced a
playoff.
"Wasn't really trying to pay attention to what they were doing, although it
really mattered, obviously," Pendrith said. "I feel for Ben. He played really,
really good today, especially down the stretch. I've been on the other side of
it a couple times, and it sucks. But it's golf. It's a hard game."
Pendrith shot 4-under 67 for a 23-under 261 total at the TPC Craig Ranch. The
32-year-old won in his 74th career PGA Tour start.
Playing just north of his birthplace of Dallas, Kohles shot 66 to finish a
stroke back. The 34-year-old who plays out of North Carolina is winless in 68
starts.
"Honestly, hadn't seen any rough like that all week," said Kohles, who moved to
North Carolina when he was 10. "Just needed a little bit more umph on it. Did
so many good things this week, and I'm just going to keep reminding myself of
that and try to get myself back in this position."
Alex Noren, a Swedish player also seeking a first PGA Tour victory, was another
stroke back. He wowed the crowd on the stadium hole at the par-3 17th with a
tee shot to 2 1/2 feet, but followed that birdie with a par knowing he probably
needed an eagle on 18. Noren shot 65 and was alone in third at 21 under.
Aaron Rai and first-round leader Matt Wallace of England were at 20 under along
with the South Korean pair of S.H. Kim and Byeong Hun An. Rai and Kim shot 64,
An 65 and Wallace 68.
Pendrith, the third-round leader, and Kohles were separated by just one shot or
tied most of the day. After Kohles made a 20-footer to take the lead on 17,
Pendrith's par putt rolled all the way around the cup and went in.
"It just curled in, that putt on the last second there, which was unreal just
to give me a chance," said Pendrith, who set it up with a chip from an awkward
stance with his heels hanging over the lip of a bunker, after saving par with
another testy putt at the par-4 16th.
The victory qualified Pendrith for the PGA Championship in two weeks and next
year's Masters. He's also in the next three $20 million signature events,
starting next week with the Wells Fargo championship. Kohles and Noren also
played their way into Wells Fargo with their Nelson showings.
With Wells Fargo and the PGA coming in the next two weeks, just three of the
top 30 in the world ranking were in the field.
Jordan Spieth, the highest at No. 20, missed the cut for just the second time
in 12 appearances at his hometown event. Defending champion Jason Day (22nd)
and Tom Kim (23rd) didn't contend, with Day finishing one shot behind Kim at 9
under.
Jake Knapp, the second-round leader who three years ago was working as a
security guard in his home state of California, shot 70 to finish at 19 under.
Knapp and Wallace were the only players in the top eight with a previous PGA
Tour win.
The start of the final round was pushed back 2 1/2 hours because of overnight
rain, and pairings turned into threesomes going off both tees with the players
allowed to lift, clean and place shots in the fairway.
Wallace appeared to start a charge by chipping in for birdie at 12, the
toughest hole of the week, and getting another birdie at the par-4 13th. A
three-putt bogey on the par-3 15th stalled him out.
Rafael Campos, a 13-year journeyman from Puerto Rico who has spent most of his
career on satellite tours, birdied five of the first six holes starting on the
back nine to make the turn at 29.
The 36-year-old cooled off on his second nine before making a 48-foot putt from
off the green for eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 63 that put him at 18 under.
Taiga Semikawa, a 23-year-old from Japan playing on a sponsor exemption, also
finished at 18 after a 64.
Kris Kim, a 16-year old amateur making his PGA Tour debut, had a rough finish
as the youngest to play a final round on tour in 10 years.
Playing his final nine on the front, the son of South Korean-born former LPGA
Tour player Ji-Hyun Suh had four bogeys and shot 73 to finish 6 under.
Kim, who is from England, played on a sponsor exemption from the South Korean
company and tournament title sponsor CJ Group.
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