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Mexico City – Matt Kuchar survived a late scare to clinch
his first title in four years on Sunday with a one-shot victory at the PGA
Tour’s Mayakoba Classic in Playa del Carmen.
The 40-year-old American, who had started the final round
with a four-shot lead, squeezed home ahead of New Zealand’s Danny Lee after
posting a two-under-par 69.
Lee had surged up the leaderboard after a six-under-par 65
to ramp up the pressure on Kuchar at the Camaleon Golf Club Course.
Kuchar looked to be comfortably on course for the win after
two birdies and seven pars on the front nine saw him reach the turn at two
under.
A long birdie putt from off the green at the 11th followed
by a further birdie at the 13th left the world number 40 cruising towards the
title at 24 under.
But back-to-back bogeys on the 14th and 15th, and Lee’s
final round, left Kuchar only one shot clear heading to the 18th.
Kuchar however was not about to be denied his first win
since 2014 and he duly parred the par-four 18th to secure the victory.
Lee meanwhile was left to rue a costly bogey on the 15th
hole which ultimately cost him a share of the lead and a possible playoff.
The bogey was the only blemish on a round that included
seven birdies, leaving him 21 under for the tournament with a 72-hole aggregate
263.
J.J Spaun and Richy Werenski finished three off the lead on
19 under after their closing rounds. Spaun carded a closing 65 while Werenski
posted a 67 for a share of third place.
Brice Garnett was a shot back on 18 under while Scott Piercy
was Sunday’s biggest mover after carding a nine-under-par 62 which saw him
vault up the leaderboard into a four-way tie for sixth at 17 under.
Leading scores after final round of the Mayakoba Classic at El Camaleon Golf Club Course, Playa del Carmen, Mexico on Sunday (par 71/USA unless stated):
262- Matt Kuchar 64-64-65-69
263 – Danny Lee (NZL) 65-66-67-65
265 – J.J. Spaun 69-65-65-66, Richy Werenski 65-66-67-67
266 – Brice Garnett 68-67-65-66
267 – Scott Piercy 67-68-70-62, Harold Varner 65-69-68-65, Pat Perez 66-67-67-67, Jim Furyk 69-65-66-67
268 – Adam Hadwin (CAN) 65-67-68-68, Anirban Lahiri (IND) 65-66-69-68, Cameron Champ 68-62-69-69, Aaron Wise 71-65-63-69, Kim Whee (KOR) 68-63-66-71
269 – Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 65-68-67-69
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