Miami (AFP) – Stefano Mazzoli sank a birdie putt from just outside 24 feet on the final hole Sunday to win the US PGA Tour Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic. The 24-year-old Italian, a rookie on the DP World Tour, fired a six-under par 66 in the final round to finish 72 holes on 20-under 268. That was good enough for Mazzoli, who trailed by four strokes with seven holes remaining, to capture his first title by one shot over American Gordon Sargent and England’s Todd Clements.
“It’s kind of emotional,” a tearful Mazzoli said. “I’m just pleased. It has been a dream this week. It’s just incredible.” It was the first top-level triumph for Mazzoli, who had not won since the 2022 Ein Bay Open on the Alps Tour. Mazzoli was the 2024 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year and won in only his third US PGA Tour start.
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“It has been a roller coaster this past year,” Mazzoli said. “I was coming pretty strong these past two years. I think it got everything together.” Clements missed an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have forced a playoff. He owned a four-stroke lead with six holes remaining but made double bogey at 13 and bogey at 16.
Most of the world’s top players were playing at this week’s Open Championship, the final major of the year.
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