Piercy, Horschel win Zurich Classic by one
AVONDALE, La. — Bonanza product Scott Piercy and Billy Horschel played bogey-free in the alternate-shot format and closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a 22-under 266 total to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Piercy and Horschel surged into the lead with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes and finished with seven pars to hold off Jason Dufner and Pat Perez. Dufner missed a 14-foot birdie putt on the last hole at TPC Louisiana that would have forced a playoff.
Horschel became a two-time winner at TPC Louisiana. He captured his maiden PGA Tour title at the 2013 Zurich Classic when it was an individual tournament.
The victory was Horschel’s fifth and Piercy’s fourth. They each made $1.04 million.
The team event did not count toward the world ranking, nor did they earn an automatic invitation to the Masters. They are eligible for the Tournament of Champions in January at Kapalua.
The format changed this year to end with foursomes in the final round, allowing for more movement on the leaderboard. Horschel and Piercy started the final round three shots behind and birdied the opening two holes.
Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown, who lost in a playoff at the Zurich Classic a year ago, had the 54-hole lead until fading on the back nine and closing with a 77.
Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel shot 68 and finished third.
Chris Paisley pitched in for eagle from just inside 50 yards on the final hole as he and Tommy Fleetwood tied for fourth with Brice Garnett and Chesson Hadley.
At Daly City, Calif., Lydia Ko hit a 3-wood to 3 feet for eagle to finish off Minjee Lee on the first hole of a playoff in the chilly Mediheal Championship. Ko, who closed with a 1-under 71 to match
Lee at 12-under 276, won her 15th tour title and first since July 2016, a 43-event stretch marked by changes in instructors, caddies and equipment and a large weight loss.
At Beijing, Alexander Bjork of Sweden closed with a 7-under 65 for an 18-under 270 total to claim a one-stroke victory in the China Open for his first tour title. Spain’s Adrian Otaegui (67) was runner-up.
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