Kirk walks away with McGladrey title
Chris Kirk claimed his second PGA Tour title on Sunday after winning the McGladrey Classic by one shot from Briny Baird and Tim Clark.
The 28-year-old fired a final round four-under-par 66 to finish at 14-under-par 266,but Baird was the one kicking himself after the tournament as he bogeyed the final hole to end his chance of claiming his maiden win.
Kirk made the most of Baird’s drive into a fairway bunker as he tapped in for par to secure the victory thanks to a solid display in the fourth round at the Seaside Course.
Having started with six consecutive pars, the Georgia native birdied seven and nine and picked up two more shots at 11 and 12.
Despite hitting the bunker at the par-five 15th, Kirk somehow managed to land a 20-foot putt to save par and he then birdied the 17th to move to 14 under alongside Baird.
The latter felt the pressure and hit the bunker from his tee-shot to make a bogey on the final hole while Kirk went on to claim par and earn his second PGA Tour title after his success at the Viking Classic in 2011.
“It’s been a long time coming since I won,” Kirk, who won $990,000 and secured his first invitation to the Masters, told PGA Tour Radio.
For Baird, who finished with a 67, it was a case of so close yet so far as he is still winless after 365 Tour events.
“It’s not all about winning,” he said. “I’ve said that, but this hurts. This really does. This is very disappointing.”
Clark produced an excellent final round of eight-under-par 62 that included nine birdies.
“This was one of the calmest days we’ve had [this week] and the course was very accessible,” the South African said. “When you’re playing well on a golf course like this, you can shoot those sort of scores.
“This is a course that suits my game, and unfortunately this is the first year I’ve been able to come and play here but I really enjoyed it.”
Scott Brown, John Senden and Brian Gay were a further shot off the pace at 12 under while 2012 US Open winner Webb Simpson was tied for seventh at 10 under.
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