Stuard wins Zurich Classic in playoffs

AVONDALE, LA. >> Brian Stuard made steady golf pay off on a waterlogged course in the haunting cypress swamps outside New Orleans.

The 33-year-old Stuard birdied the final hole of a largely unspectacular final round to sneak into a threeway playoff on Monday, then beat Jamie Lovemark on the second extra hole to capture his maiden PGA Tour triumph at the Zurich Classic.

Stuard never bogeyed a hole throughout the tournament on the long (7,425yard), par-72 TPC Louisiana course, which was drenched with more than 41/2 inches of rain during the tournament. Weather delays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday not only forced a Monday finish but also led officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.

“I wasn’t playing great. I was just kind of, I don’t know ... hanging around,” Stuard said after his finalround 69, which wasn’t even among the top 20 scores on the day. “I kind of hung in there all week. I just didn’t get too ahead of myself and just stayed real patient.”

Lovemark, Stuard and Byeong-Hun An entered the playoff at 15 under par.

An unraveled on the first playoff hole and Lovemark on the second while Stuard remained composed, virtually clinching the win with a 160-yard approach to within 21/2 of the pin for an easy birdie putt.

Stuard’s best previous PGA Tour finishes were a pair of second places in Mexico, one in 2010 and the other in 2014. He arrived in New Orleans with conditional status on the PGA Tour, meaning he could only play in tournaments that had room for him when enough higherranked players skipped the event. His victory not only earned him $1.26 million, it also gives him a two-year exemption allowing him to play in majors and any other Tour event he wants.

“I’ve always been, I guess, a journeyman kind of player, just always grinded it out,” said Stuard, who became the seventh first-time winner in New Orleans in the past 11 years. “You just had to have the confidence to say, ‘One day, it’s going to be your time.”’

Lovemark came in with only five career top-10 finishes, but four of those had come this season.

“I feel good,” Lovemark said after his best finish since his only other second place in 2009. “Not too disappointed. Just a little bummed, but moving on to next week.”

Jason Day, the world’s topranked player, wound up tied for fifth with Chris Kirk at

GERALD HERBERT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Brian Stuard lines up a putt on the 16th green during the final round of the PGA Zurich Classic in Avondale, La. on Monday. Stuard won the rain-shortened tournament in a three-man playoff.