Nico Echavarria birdied two of his closing 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’ complete of 261 set in 2019.
“It is unimaginable to win a match that Tiger’s gained,” 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 gained 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 match 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 yr for me, I simply have not had that high end result. I have been very constant, I’ve realized loads this yr. To complete the yr this manner is, it is unimaginable, particularly doing it right here in Japan in such an incredible nation.”
Echavarria collected 5 birdies in opposition to two bogeys throughout his closing spherical. He reached the par-5 18th in two strokes, pulled inside 3 ft on his subsequent putt earlier than profitable the match on his closing 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 upset, however I performed so properly,” Thomas mentioned. “I performed lots properly sufficient to win the match. Hit so many good putts at present 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 sturdy placing, he completed as a runner-up for the third time in his previous 5 occasions.
“, I did not fairly execute down the stretch once I wanted to,” Greyserman mentioned. “I imply, Nico stepped up there and he hit an incredible 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 Individuals within the high 5.
–Subject Degree Media
