At 31, Griffin captures his first PGA Tour title
Six feet away from his first PGA Tour victory, Lanto Griffin never felt calmer.
It was only after his par putt fell into the middle of the cup Sunday in the Houston Open that the 31yearold golfer struggled to contain his emotions.
“This is going to be a week that I’ll never, never forget — regardless what happens the rest of my career,” said Griffin, who was born in Mount Shasta before moving to Virginia with his family at a young age. “I feel very fortunate beyond words.”
Locked in a tight race on the back nine, Griffin took the lead with a 35foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, and then won with that 6footer for par. The putt gave him a 3underpar 69 and a oneshot victory over San Jose State alum Mark Hubbard and Scott Harrington.
All three were on the Korn Ferry Tour last year. None had ever won on the PGA Tour.
Griffin finished at 14under 274 and moved to the top of the FedEx Cup standings as the PGA Tour heads to Asia for three weeks of big purses and limited fields with no cuts.
But first, a celebration that Griffin feels was a long time coming.
His phone showed 447 text messages, and Griffin planned to get to all of them. He looked again, it was at 457.
“We’re moving up,” he said. “Big thanks to everybody that supports me back home. Man, it’s going to be fun celebrating with everybody.” European Tour: Bernd Wiesberger carded a bogeyfree 6under 65 at Olgiata Golf Club in Rome for a onestroke victory over Matthew Fitzpatrick at the Italian Open. The 34yearold Austrian began the day three strokes behind Fitzpatrick.
With a $7 million purse, the Italian Open returned to Rome after 17 years as the local federation attempts to boost interest ahead of the 2022 Ryder Cup at the nearby Marco Simone club. Total attendance for the four days was 29,000. PGA Tour Champions: In Cary, N.C., Jerry Kelly recorded five consecutive birdies to close out the front nine and posted a 7under 65 for a oneshot victory over David McKenzie at the SAS Championship — the final regularseason event on the tour.
Kelly, 52, won for the third time this year. He went over $2 million in earnings for the season and remains No. 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. Family Golf Tournament: The fatherandson team of Joe and Joey Hayden of Dublin became the first duo in 29 years to win the Northern California Family Golf Tournament three years in a row when they defeated Carmel’s Jason and Ethan Melvin 3and2 at Golden Gate Park Golf Club.