Ventura Wins Utah Championship on Third Playoff Hole
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2019-07-03
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FARMINGTON, Utah — Kristoffer Ventura of Norway closed with a 6-under 65 and won the Utah Championship by getting up-and-down for par on the third playoff hole to beat Joshua Creel.
The Mexican-born Ventura, who played at Oklahoma State, was projected to move to No. 17 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list. The top 25 at the end of the regular season head to the PGA Tour.
Creel closed with a 67 and had a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th to win on the first playoff hole. Returning to the 18th, Creel had to save par from left of the green.
The tournament was decided on the 10th, where Creel's drive was in the rough behind a tree, forcing him to lay up. He hit his third to 15 feet and his par putt caught the left. Ventura hit from the right rough to just short of the green and chipped to 2 feet.
They finished at 14-under 270, one shot ahead of Ryan Brehm (66), Charlie Saxon (68) and Kevin Dougherty (68). Saxon missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a chance to join the playoff.