Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Chappell finally breaks through in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — Kevin Chappell made an 8-foot putt on the final hole to win the Valero Texas Open by one stroke on Sunday.
Chappell had a 4-under 68 in the final round to finish at 12 under for the tournament, edging Brooks Koepka at TPC San Antonio to earn his first PGA Tour victory in his 180th career start.
“A big relief,” the 30-yearold Chappell said. “There’s been quite the monkey on my back for some time now about getting that first victory. And to take that off and not have to answer those questions anymore is nice.”
Koepka, a member of the
U.S. Ryder Cup team last year, was looking for his second PGA Tour victory. He had the best round of the day at 7-un- der 65. Before Chappell came down the 18th hole, Koepka had birdied the hole with a 3-foot putt to tie him.
“It’s hard to win out here — everybody knows that,” Koepka said. “I’m knocking on the
door to get my second win. It’s nice for Kevin to get his first win. That’s pretty cool.”
Second-round co-leader Tony Finau got in a position to tie Koepka when he birdied four of five holes on the back nine. But his par-bogey
finish left him to settle for a final-round 69 and a third-place tie with Kevin Tway (69) at 9-under.
Australian Aaron Baddeley fired 68 to finish fourth at 8 under.
Brian Gay (70), Sung Kang (68), Ryan Palmer (71) and Cameron Smith (71) were tied for sixth at 7-under, five shots behind Chappell.
Koepka, trailing Chappell by a shot coming up the 18th, took a 3-metal out of his bag and considered taking a crack at reaching the 606-yard par-5 in two. But he had 293 yards left with a slight uphill shot into the wind with a creek fronting the green.
“I really wanted to go for it — I really wanted to,” Koepka said. “But my caddie was kind of pulling the reins back and he wanted me to lay up, and it was probably a good thing that we did.”
He put the club back in
his bag and laid up to create a 90-wedge approach. He stuck that to about three feet and made the birdie to go into the clubhouse tied with Chappell.
Chappell had almost the same distance for his approach on 18, and he landed it past the hole to set up the winning putt.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Chappell, a Californian who had been runner-up six times in his career. “Brooks kept me honest out there today. He made me had to do it the right way. There wasn’t any question I was going to make 4 [birdie] and win the golf tournament.”
Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) tied for 40th at 2 over and won $21,728. Bryce Molder (Conway) was 57th at 5 over and won $14,012, while Ken Duke (Arkadelphia) was a stroke behind, good enough for $13,702.
WEB.COM
Lee survives wind
NEWBURGH, Ind. — On a day where 2-under 70 represented the low round, Korea’s D.H. Lee survived windy conditions on the difficult Victoria National layout with a final-round 2-over 74 to capture the United Leasing & Finance Championship for his first ca- reer Web.com Tour victory. Lee edged out playing partner Jason Gore (72) by a shot with a par at the last to claim the title in southern Indiana.
Lee was one of only four players who finished under par for the tournament.
Taylor Moore (Arkansas Razorbacks) was 7 over, tied for 33rd place and won $3,360. Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) was 9 over and won $2,025.
CHAMPIONS Team breaks record
RIDGEDALE, Mo. — Carlos Franco and Vijay Singh teamed to shoot a course-record 12-under par on Sunday to rally from seven shots behind and win the PGA Tour Champions’ Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge.
Franco and Singh finished at 15 under overall over the rain-shortened 36-hole tournament at the par-3 Top of the Rock course.
Among those who finished at 14 under were first-round leaders Jeff Sluman and Fred Funk. The duo o finished tied for second with the teams of Paul Goydos and Kevin Sutherland and Corey Pavin and Duffy Waldorf.
John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) teamed with Michael Allen were at 10 under and won $25,000 apiece.
EUROPEAN Wiesberger holds on
SHENZHEN, China — Austrian Bernd Wiesberger beat England’s Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff on Sunday to win the Shenzhen International.
Wiesberger went into the final round with a three-shot lead and eight shots ahead of Fleetwood but the Englishman fired a 63 to finish tied at 16 under.
Wiesberger’s 71 featured par saves on the 12th and 17th and nearly hit the pin with his approach to the last hole but was forced to settle for a par and a trip back up the 18th.
Wiesberger hit his drive in the playoff over the water off the tee and ended up in the bank while Fleetwood played safely onto the fairway and found the heart of the green with his second shot.
The pressure was on Wiesberger and he delivered, placing his approach to 5 feet and making the putt for a birdie.