Sunday 22 April 2018 23:52, UK
Andrew Landry showed impressive composure down the stretch to claim his maiden PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory at the Valero Texas Open.
Landry stormed into a commanding lead early on the final day as he birdied the opening three holes at TPC San Antonio, although his advantage was whittled down to one when he bogeyed the 11th and Trey Mullinax birdied.
Mullinax gave himself a great chance to draw level when his aggressive drive at the 17th left him just a 45-yard pitch to the pin, but he chunked it into a greenside bunker and took three more to get down - a mistake which doubled Landry's lead coming up the last.
But Landry then opened the door when his over-cautious third shot to the par-five caught the rear-left edge of the green and left him a tricky two-putt down the hill for par, while Mullinax kept the pressure on the leader when he clipped a good wedge to inside 10 feet.
Landry's first putt rolled an uncomfortable eight feet past the cup but, after Mullinax missed his effort for birdie, Landry's par putt dropped in the centre to ensure his first PGA Tour win at the age of 30.
The two-time winner on the Web.com Tour parred the final seven holes to card a four-under 68 for a winning score of 17 under par, and Landry was the only player in the field to break 70 on all four days.
Landry, who lost out to Jon Rahm on the fourth extra hole at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January, also earned automatic qualification for The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass next month.
Mullinax, who soared into contention with a course-record 62 in the third round, had to be content with a 69 and a share of second place with fast-finishing Sean O'Hair, who birdied the final two holes to return a 66 and set the clubhouse target at 15 under.
Local favourite Jimmy Walker got to within three of the lead when he rolled in his fifth birdie putt of the day at the 11th, but the 2016 PGA champion fell out of the running with back-to-back bogeys at 14 and 15, although he lifted his spirits with a birdie-birdie finish to cap a 67.
Walker ended the week in outright fourth on 14 under and one shot ahead of two-time winner Zach Johnson, who ran up a scrappy six at the last to complete a disappointing 72.
Meanwhile, former amateur world No 1 Joaquin Niemann enjoyed a superb first tournament as a professional as he birdied the final three holes to card a 67 and post a sixth-place finish on 12 under par.