Breakthrough win for Wise at Byron Nelson
DALLAS: Aaron Wise claimed his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, firing six birdies in a six-under 66 to win the Byron Nelson by three strokes over Australian Marc Leishman.
The 21-year-old, who started the day tied for the lead with Leishman, took full advantage of the ideal scoring conditions that prevailed at Trinity Forest when play finally got underway after a four-hour weather delay.
In the tournament’s first edition at the new par-71 layout south of Dallas, Wise’s 23-under par total of 261 crushed the previous scoring record of 19-under 261 set by Rory Sabbatini at the par-70 TPC Four Seasons in Irving in 2009.
Trinity Forest, a links-style layout with neither trees nor water hazards, offered up a birdie bonanza when softened by rain.
Wise joined the action with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth.
He then birdied four in a row from the seventh through the 10th to set himself up for a march to victory on the back nine — where one of the most pressing questions he faced was whether he would be able to finish the round before darkness fell.
Leishman, who launched the week with a career-best 61, just couldn’t keep pace.
The 34-year-old, seeking a third PGA Tour title, had an eagle and four birdies but tossed in three bogeys that doomed his bid.
Leishman signed for a three-under par 68 that put him alone in second on 264.
“It’s awesome,” said Wise, who was coming off a career-best PGA Tour finish of second at Quail Hollow which he said gave him “just a ton of self-belief”.
“I felt oddly calm all day long,” added Wise, the 2016 NCAA collegiate champion who was making his 18th tour start as a member. “And to play as good as I did, bogey-free, today was awesome.”
South African Branden Grace and Americans JJ Spaun and Keith Mitchell shared third on 265.