Stuard wins maiden title in a play-off

Journeyman Brian Stuard won his first PGA Tour title at the weather-shortened Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Monday.
Heavy rains severely disrupted the tournament over the weekend, leading to hours and hours of lost time and forcing officials to shorted the event to 54 holes and announce a Monday finish.
Stuard held a share of the lead with Jhonattan Vegas through five holes of their third rounds when play was called off at TPC Louisiana on Sunday.
So you're telling us it rained here… pic.twitter.com/WReNmdPH5h
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 1, 2016
American Stuard and Venezuelan Vegas were tied at 13 under par, one shot better than American Bobby Wyatt, who had put together a stellar six-under-par run through his first nine.
Jason Day had also made some early gains to get in the frame for yet another PGA Tour triumph.
Returning to the course on Monday, Day continued to excel, but not even a third-round 66 was enough to force himself into the reckoning.
Instead, Stuard held firm with a three-under 69 to finish the tournament on 15 under par.
That was only good enough for a share of the lead with Jamie Lovemark, who shot a 68, and South Korea's Byeong-Hun An, who had done superbly to shoot a 65 and join what turned out to be a three-man play-off for the title between three players all chasing their first PGA Tour victory.
Unfortunately for Byeong-Hun, he was the first man to be eliminated after bogeying the first play-off hole of the day, the par-5 18th.
Lovemark and Stuard both made pars and so moved on to negotiate the 18th hole once again.
This time, it was Stuard who made the decisive play, nailing his third shot approach to within three feet for the simplest of birdies:
Spectacular shot for Stuard. %uD83C%uDFAF
Two-footer left for his birdie. #QuickHits https://t.co/4RfrbiCfW2
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2016
With Lovemark unable to make his birdie, Stuard had a straightforward putt to seal his maiden PGA Tour victory:
Brian Stuard comes through in the clutch and wins @Zurich_Classic. #QuickHits https://t.co/265QFNMMhv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2016
Stuard first gained his Tour card back in 2010, although he was forced to return to the Nationwide Tour and re-qualify two years later. His maiden win this week comes in his 120th Tour start.
The victory earns him $1.26 million and a spot in the Wells Fargo Championship next week, The Players Championship in two weeks and the 2017 Masters.
Latest
-
News
Rory McIlroy on latest near-miss in Abu Dhabi: ‘I don’t feel like I played great’
McIlroy avoids mentioning final-round blues but admits he needs to get more consistent.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton eyes Ryder Cup spot after winning Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Hatton carded a closing 66 to finish 18 under par.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as Rory McIlroy misses out
Australia’s Jason Scrivener recorded an eagle and five birdies in a back nine of 29 to claim second place.
-
News
Rory McIlroy leads the way in Abu Dhabi as he eyes overdue victory
McIlroy will have to keep his Ryder Cup team-mates at bay if he is to claim the trophy.
-
News
Tyrrell Hatton dominant as Rory McIlroy falters in Abu Dhabi
Hatton led by five shots at the end of a second weather-affected day.
-
News
Phil Mickelson on Tiger’s latest surgery: ‘I feel bad because golf should be a game of a lifetime’
Mickelson admitted he was saddened by the news of Woods’ latest back surgery.
-
News
Rory McIlroy makes brilliant start to fog-affected Abu Dhabi Championship
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes.
-
News
Rory McIlroy shines in Abu Dhabi to take first-round lead following flawless 64
McIlroy has a remarkable record in Abu Dhabi with four second-place finishes, three thirds and a fifth in his last nine starts, but has never won.
-
News
Justin Thomas on end of Ralph Lauren deal: ‘They moved on so that’s what I’m doing as well’
Justin Thomas said he was upset by...
-
News
My last win feels a long time ago – Rory McIlroy aiming to start year on a high
McIlroy has not tasted victory since November 2019.