Maverick McNeely won his first PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic on St. Simons Island, Georgia, with a final-round 68 to beat three competitors by one stroke.
The 29-year-old sank a 5-foot, 5-inch putt on the 18th hole to finish with a 16-under 266, just ahead of Luke Clanton (66), Nico Echavarria (65) and Daniel Berger (67). did.
The win came in his 134th start as a professional, and will allow him to start the year at Sentry on Maui and play in his first Masters in April.
“Honestly, my mind went blank,” McNeely said. “The 18th in particular was an incredible adrenaline rush.
“It was a moment I will never forget celebrating with my friends, family, wife and team.
“Mom and dad, I’m watching at home. They’re all excited. That was my first phone call. Maya (my wife) said, “Hopefully, it’s my job to make the phone calls as quickly as possible while walking.” I knew that.” 18 days off. I’m the luckiest man ever. ”
Berger missed a 20-foot birdie on the 18th, and Echavarria and Clanton also missed par putts from inside 8 feet on the final hole in a four-way tie.
Clanton was one shot away from joining Nick Dunlap as amateur winners on this year’s PGA Tour. He pulled his approach to the 18th into a bunker and launched it well to 7 feet, but cringed in disbelief when he missed the par putt and had to settle for a 66.
“It’s definitely going to be a tough match to win after that last bogey,” Clanton said. “But I think I’ve proven that I can win here, so I’m going to train for that.”
Henrik Norlander, who was 126th in last year’s FedEx Cup, had a 63-68 weekend and joined Berger as the only two players in the top 125, replacing unqualified Zach Blair and Wesley Bryan. Damen finished 124th with a final 64.
JT Poston finished the day’s round with a 7-under 63 to tie for fifth place with a 14-under 268, alongside Lee Hodges (67) and Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes (68).
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Vince Whaley, who was tied for the lead with McNealy going into the final round, shot a 71 on Sunday and finished tied for eighth.
Michael Thorbjornsen (69) and Patrick Fishburne (69) also tied for eighth with 13-under 269.
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