Hahn claims Wells Fargo crown

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May 9, 2016

James Hahn has won the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte after edging out fellow American Roberto Castro in a playoff.

A par at the first playoff hole proved enough for Hahn after Castro found the water, leaving Hahn to breathe a sigh of relief after he had let a chance to secure victory in regulation play at Quail Hollow slip through his fingers.

The win represents a welcome emergence from a slump in form for the South Korean-born Hahn, who entered the tournament on the back of eight straight missed cuts.

Justin Rose finished third on eight under, while defending champion Rory McIlroy shared fourth with overnight leader Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson on seven under.

Fowler had began the day in front, but the world number five quickly found himself slipping down the standings after two bogeys in his opening four holes were followed by a double-bogey seven at the seventh as he stumbled to a 74.

McIlroy and Mickelson – who bounced back from a 76 on Saturday – both carded rounds of 66, but their respective charges came too late, leaving Hahn, Castro and Rose as the men to beat as the trio tied for the lead with six holes to play.

It was a frustrating day for 2013 U.S. Open champion Rose who found himself well placed only to see a few poor putts cost him. A missed four-foot putt for birdie at 15th was followed by another wayward short putt at the 16th which cost him a shot and a chance of claiming the title.

Rose wasn't the only one to stumble late on though. Castro was ahead going into Quail Hollow’s infamous 'Green Mile' closing stretch, but he failed to press home his advantage and bogeyed two of the last three holes to drop back to nine under after a round of 71.

This left Hahn with the chance to win it at the 18th, with the 34-year-old only needing par at the last. However, after finding the green in two, Hahn proceeded to three-putt from 30 feet to register a bogey, forcing a playoff.

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