On a steamy Southern weekend that would be ideal for growing bananas, it was a New Yorker who came away with the second of four Web.com Tour Finals events: the Chiquita Classic, held at River Run Country Club in Davidson, NC. After a bit of a late stumble in regulation, the New Yorker triumphed on the first hole of a playoff over Will MacKenzie.

In its eventful infancy, the Web.com Tour Finals has proven itself capable of generating drama out of strange bedfellows and interesting juxtapositions of players. Last week’s Hotel Fitness Championship came down to the final hole, where injury-plagued former major champion Trevor Immelman escaped a final-nine bid from young up-and-comer Patrick Cantlay to win the first Finals event and regain PGA Tour status for the 2013-14 season.

By contrast, Chiquita Classic winner Svoboda’s career, which began on the mini tours in 2004, is finally on the rise. The St. John’s University alum grew up playing golf at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., which tortured the best golfers in the world as recently as the 2006 U.S. Open, so he is no stranger to intense pressure on the golf course. Svoboda finished 25^th on the Web.com Tour money list in 2013. This in itself assured him a 2013-14 PGA Tour card, but his win at River Run will move him well up the Reshuffle list, which determines the PGA Tour pros that will be given the final spots in the first few full-field events of the new season and who will have to Monday-qualify for the same.

MacKenzie, who finished 40^th on the 2013 Web.com Tour money list, chipped in for eagle on his final hole to break out of a five-way tie for second place. The timely shot capped a round of five-under par 67. The final three holes saw a three-shot swing between the two players, with Svoboda bogeying the par three 17^th between pars on the 16^th and 18^th holes.

Ben Martin, who finished second on the 2013 Web.com Tour money list, finished in a tie for third at 11-under par with John Peterson. Martin shot a final-round four-under par 68 while Peterson had a one-under par 71 on Sunday. Peterson finished 30^th on the Web.com Tour money list but has locked up his PGA Tour card after a top-five finish in the Hotel Fitness Championship last week.

Japanese phenom Ryo Ishikawa, who has struggled to find consistent success in the United States, finished in solo fifth place after a stellar final round of six-under par 66, leaving him at ten-under par for the tournament. It appears his way is also paved to the 2013-14 PGA Tour.

The Finals now head north, to the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University, for the Nationwide Children’s Championship. The pressure on those still on the outside of the chase for the last 25 PGA Tour cards will be multiplied and more drama is sure to ensue.