Washington (United States) (AFP) – Jacob Bridgeman birdied four of the last six holes on Sunday to hold off fellow American Ben James and win the PGA Biltmore Championship by two strokes. Bridgeman fired a 10-under-par 61 with eight birdies and an eagle to finish 72 holes on 26-under 258 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville, North Carolina.
“When I was over the putt I knew where it was going to go. It was just magical,” Bridgeman said. “I just made so many putts.” It was the second career PGA crown for 26-year-old Bridgeman, a native of nearby Inman, South Carolina, playing in front of family and friends who captured his first in February at Riviera.
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“It was super cool,” Bridgeman said. “It was awesome. I felt like I had all my family and friends cheering for me. It was pretty neat. It’s super cool to perform in front of them. I’m super pumped.” Bridgeman will play for the United States in next week’s Presidents Cup at Medinah.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “Being able to play as a team for the United States, I’m really pumped.” James matched his career-low PGA round with a 61 to finish second on 260, one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Ricky Castillo and Neal Shipley, with Americans J.T. Poston and Jackson Koivun sharing fifth on 263.
Bridgeman birdied three of the first four holes, added a 10-foot eagle putt at the par-five eighth, and sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 10th for a one-stroke lead. James grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-five 15th but Bridgeman answered with a birdie from just outside five feet at the 13th.
When James made a 26-foot birdie putt at 16, Bridgeman responded with a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-three 14th to regain the solo lead. Bridgeman tapped in for birdie at 15, and James did the same at the par-five 17th to stay on his heels. A closing par by James left him needing a mistake by Bridgeman in the last two holes, but the leader added a tap-in birdie at 17 and parred 18 to secure the $900,000 top prize.
Poston began the day 11 strokes adrift but fired a 60 and nearly had the PGA’s 17th sub-60 round. “It was pretty special,” Poston said. “It was just cool to have a round like that.” Poston, this year’s Memorial winner who grew up in nearby Hickory, was in the first group off the back nine after a fog delay and reached 18 needing a birdie for 59. He parred after missing a putt from just beyond 26 feet.
“I was rolling it really well,” Poston said. “Just wanted to give myself a putt and I did that. Hit a good putt and it just missed.” The $5 million event marked the start of the PGA Tour’s fall series, which offers golfers who missed the playoffs a chance to improve their status for next year’s tour.
© 2024 AFP
