There’s a colossal difference. Putting your hands on the trophy is a lot different than finishing second.
LEHI – Patton Kizzire came into the Utah Championship last Thursday as the leading money winner on the Web.com Tour, despite never having won a tournament all year.
He left the Golf Club at Thanksgiving Point Sunday evening with the Billy Casper Cup with his first victory and substantially increased his advantage on the money list with the $117,000 first-place check. He immediately noticed a big difference between being the winner compared to runnerup.
“There’s a colossal difference,’’ he said. “Putting your hands on the trophy is a lot different than finishing second.’’
Kizzire increased his earnings for the year to $391,699, which is more than $123,000 ahead of No. 2 Peter Malnati, who missed the cut and didn’t cash a check for the week. Kizzire is in great shape to end up No. 1 on the money list and all the perks that come with it.
“Winning a tournament and winning the money title are the two goals I have this year, so to finally get a tournament under my belt is huge,’’ he said. “And it gives me a solid advantage going into the last four tournaments to secure the top spot.’’
It didn’t come easy for the 28-year-old from Alabama, who watched a seemingly comfortable four-stroke lead vanish amid a barrage of birdies by the 28-year-old Kang, who was also looking for his first victory on the Web.com Tour.
The two squared off in a sudden-death playoff with Kizzire prevailing on the second playoff hole by sinking a three-foot birdie putt after a beautiful approach shot from 65 yards with his 60-degree wedge.
Of his winning putt, Kizzire said, “That was one of the longest three-footers I’ve ever had. Luckily I poured it in.’’
Kang was trying to become the second straight Korean winner of a Web.com event after Si Woo Kim won the Stonebrae Classic in California two weeks ago. Instead, he had to settle for second for the second straight year after finishing in a three-way tie for second in last year’s tournament at Willow Creek.
“I played great today, especially on the back nine,’’ he said. “At least I got in a playoff. It was a great week for me.’’
A day earlier Kang had said, “I love Utah,’’ but after picking up a check for $70,000 and moving up to No. 23 on the Web.com money list, he increased his chances of qualifying for the PGA Tour next year. When asked about coming back to Utah next year, he laughed and said, “hopefully not.’’
After opening with a 67, Kizzire shot a course-record 62 on Friday, hung on with a 71 on Saturday and turned it on after a slow start Sunday to post a 3-under-par 69 and 269 total.
Kizzire had started the day with a two-stroke lead over Kang but quickly fell behind as Kang birdied the first two holes while Kizzire bogeyed 2 and 4, with a birdie in between at 3. However, he birdied 5 and 7 while Kang was bogeying, to make it a four-shot swing, and when Kizzire rolled in a 10-footer at No. 18 the margin was suddenly four.
Then came Kang's charge.
He closed the gap to two with birdies at 11 and 13 and had an eagle putt at No. 14. But his 30-footer slid past and when Kizzire got up and down from behind the green for a birdie, the margin stayed at two.
The two matched pars until the par-4 16th hole when Kang hit his approach shot within two feet and sank the birdie putt. Then at 17, Kang sank a 15-foot birdie putt to tie things up.
At 18, both players hit good drives and approaches. After Kizzire’s 12-footer slid past the hole, Kang’s 10-footer just missed on the left side, forcing a playoff.
On the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th again, Kizzire hit his drive through the fairway across the cart path into the brush where he had a bad lie. Kang ended up on the fairway and after their approaches, Kang had 15 feet left, while Kizzire faced a 40-foot putt. Kang left his putt short, while Kizzire had to make a testy 4-footer for par.
The players went back to 18 again and this time Kizzire hit a nearly perfect drive in the fairway, with a nice angle to the hole.
“I’m super pumped,’’ said Kizzire. “I thought if I played well coming in, it wouldn’t be an issue, but (Kang) played really well. I’m excited to finish it off.’’
After Kizzire and Kang, five golfers — Zack Fischer, Garth Mulroy, Alex Aragon, Tag Ridings, Scott Harrington — tied for third at 14-under-par 274.
Fischer, a 25-year-old from Texas, played better than anyone over the past three rounds after starting with a 4-over 76 that left him in danger of missing the cut. However, he rebounded with a 64 on Friday, added a 68 on Saturday and finished with a 66 Sunday, which put him in the clubhouse lead for as couple of hours at 14-under-par 274.
“My goal today was to shoot 10-under, but that wouldn’t have been enough,’’ he said. “I played really solid today and the whole round I putted really well.’’
Lucas Lee had the low score of the day, an 8-under-par 64, and he tied for eighth with Stephan Jaeger and Ryan Blaum at 275.
According to Utah Sports Commission executive director Jeff Robbins, the tournament will return to Thanksgiving Point Golf Course in 2016.
“The comments I’ve received is that the Tour is very happy with the event this year,’’ he said..