Nico Echavarria birdied two of his last three holes on Sunday to document a one-stroke victory on the Zozo Championship in Chiba, Japan.
Echavarria, a 30-year-old Colombian who performed on the College of Arkansas, completed 3-under-par-67 on Sunday and set a tournament-record 20-under 260 at Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Membership. He bested Tiger Woods’ whole of 261 set in 2019.
“It is unbelievable to win a event that Tiger’s received,” Echavarria mentioned. “That is my second victory, so I simply want 80 extra victories to catch him. I am on my means, although.”
Echavarria, who additionally received the 2023 Puerto Rico Open, edged Max Greyserman (65 on Sunday) and Justin Thomas (66) by one stroke. Echavarria pocketed $1.53 million for profitable the 78-player, no-cut event and is projected to maneuver to No. 65 within the FedExCup standings after starting the week at No. 113.
“It is surreal,” he mentioned. “It has been an excellent 12 months for me, I simply have not had that prime consequence. I have been very constant, I’ve discovered quite a bit this 12 months. To complete the 12 months this fashion is, it is unbelievable, particularly doing it right here in Japan in such a tremendous nation.”
Echavarria collected 5 birdies towards two bogeys throughout his last spherical. He reached the par-5 18th in two strokes, pulled inside 3 ft on his subsequent putt earlier than profitable the event on his last stroke.
Thomas, who joined Greyserman in pocketing $748,000 for his T2 end, recorded his fourth birdie of the day on the 18th gap to cap his bogey-free spherical. He fell simply wanting recording his sixteenth profession title on the PGA Tour and the primary one since profitable the 2022 PGA Championship.
“Clearly bummed and dissatisfied, however I performed so nicely,” Thomas mentioned. “I performed a lot nicely sufficient to win the event. Hit so many good putts in the present day that simply did not go in, that is the distinction.”
Greyserman, who was looking for his first PGA Tour title, carded 4 of his 5 birdies on the entrance 9. Regardless of robust placing, he completed as a runner-up for the third time in his previous 5 occasions.
“You understand, I did not fairly execute down the stretch once I wanted to,” Greyserman mentioned. “I imply, Nico stepped up there and he hit an amazing second shot (on 18). He earned it.”
Rickie Fowler shot a bogey-free 64 to complete in fourth place at 17-under, whereas Kurt Kitayama (65) ended up in fifth at 15-under. Their finishes put 4 People within the prime 5.
–Subject Degree Media
