Australian rookie Karl Vilips has again underlined his great potential as Americans Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin triumphed in the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans teams event.
Novak and Griffin secured maiden tour wins as they shot a final-round one-under-par 71 in alternate-shot play for a one-stroke victory at TPC Louisiana on Sunday, with Novak making quick amends for his playoff loss to Justin Thomas a week earlier.
Danish twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard (68) came second with Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III (70) third at 26 under.
Already a tour winner at the Puerto Rico Open last month, 23-year-old Vilips and his Canadian partner Michael Thorbjornsen closed with a 68 to tie for fourth, three shots behind the winners.
A double bogey at the 17th hole proved costly for the pair, although they birdied the last.
They tied with the teams of David Lipsky and Dylan Wu (68), Taylor Dickson and Trace Crowe (68) and Michael Thorbjornsen and Luke List and Henrik Norlander 69).
Novak became a winner in his 100th PGA Tour event, while Griffin was entered for the 90th time.
After three bogeys and three birdies on the front side, the pair had seven consecutive pars until Griffin rolled in a birdie putt from the fringe nearly 35 feet away at No.17 to break a tie with Knapp and Capan, who took a bogey on the hole.
The Hojgaard brothers applied pressure with birdies on three of the final six holes, including a birdie at No 18 in the group ahead of the leaders.
Griffin’s approach shot on par-5 No.18 left the team 16 feet away, and two putts later they had a par and a championship.
Defending champions Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Shane Lowry (Ireland) dropped to a 12th-place tie at 22 under with their 72.
They started the round tied for fifth place and then played the front nine in two under before slumping.
– with AAP
