Brian Stuard stays above the water in New Orleans to claim maiden PGA Tour title
By: Golfshake Editor | Tue 03 May 2016
Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements
BRIAN STUARD became the latest first-time winner on the PGA Tour when he survived a rain-soaked five days to win the Zurich Classic in a playoff after the tournament was reduced to 54 holes.
The 33-year-old Stuard birdied the final hole to tie with Jamie LOvemark and Ben An on 15 under par, before going on to beat Lovemark at the second extra hole.
Stuard did not drop a shot throughout the tournament on the 7,425-yard, par-72 TPC Louisiana course, which was drenched with more than 4 1/2 inches of rain during the tournament. Weather delays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday not only forced a Monday finish but also led officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.
''I wasn't playing great. I was just kind of, I don't know ... hanging around,'' Stuard said after his final-round 69. ''I kind of hung in there all week. I just didn't get too ahead of myself and just stayed real patient.''
An dropped out at the first playoff hole, and Stuard clinched the title with a 160-yard approach to within 30 inches of the pin to set up a winning birdie.
Stuard's best previous PGA Tour finishes were a pair of second places in Mexico, one in 2010 and the other in 2014. He arrived in New Orleans with conditional status on the PGA Tour, meaning he could only play in tournaments that had room for him when enough higher-ranked players skipped the event. His victory not only earned him $1.25m but also earned a two-year exemption.
''I've always been, I guess, a journeyman kind of player, just always grinded it out,'' said Stuard, who became the seventh first-time winner in New Orleans in the past 11 years. ''You just had to have the confidence to say, 'One day, it's going to be your time.'''
Lovemark came in with only five career top-10 finishes, but four of those had come this season. 'I feel good,'' Lovemark said after his best finish since his only other second place in 2009. ''Not too disappointed. Just a little bummed, but moving on to next week.''
World number one Jason Day finished in a tie for fifth with Chris Kirk on 13 under.
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Tags: PGA Tour
