News

Tour Rundown: Lilia Vu’s major win | Hardy & Riley

Published

2 years ago

Apr 24, 2023

The third weekend in April brough the year’s first LPGA women’s major championship. Much was done to replicate the experience at Mission Hills, and other new elements were brought to the fore. That event was supplemented by the team event on the PGA Tour, a first-time DP World Tour competition in Japan, and tournaments on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour Champions circuits. It was a full slate of challenges for the golf fan, and it merits a slow and deep Tour Rundown. Let’s dive right in.

Lilia takes the leap! ?

The 2x Tour winner is now a major champion ? pic.twitter.com/cx90BehK50

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 23, 2023

If we have one word on the evening of Sunday, April 23rd, it’s playoff. Only the two-man event on the PGA Tour was decided in regulation play. The excitement meter in professional golf just melted the needle. It’s time to find out who took care of business in overtime.

LPGA-Chevron Championship: Lilia Vu wins inaugural playing in Texas

Lilia Vu was a highly-decorated golfer in the amateur ranks. The professional learning curve is finally rounding into shape for the California resident. Vu posted a final-round 68 at Carlton Woods in Texas, highlighted by birdies on her final two holes. That performance moved her to 10-under par, into what would be a tie with Angel Yin.

Yin began round four in a tie with Allisen Corpuz. Neither golfer could find the magic dust that brought them to double-figures under par through 54 holes. Corpuz tripped over five bogeys on day four, posted plus-two for the round, and dropped to a tie for 4th spot. Yin had the lead to herself at eleven under, as she addressed her tee shot on the 16th hole. Two bogies later, she was in need of a birdie at the last to force a playoff. Yin made birdie and she and Vu went back to the final tee for extra play.

The playoff was over soon after it began. Yin had five feet left for par when Vu addressed her fifteen-feet birdie putt. Although it broke quite a bit at the start, it straightened out at the end, dropping in the left side of the hole for birdie and victory. Nelly Korda placed solo third at minus-nine, but it took a final-hole eagle to get her there.

For the win! ?

Lilia Vu birdies the first playoff hole to win the 2023 Chevron Championship! pic.twitter.com/bn0iPR0VLe

— LPGA (@LPGA) April 23, 2023

PGA Tour-Zurich Classic: Two-man event features first-time winners in Hardy & Riley

If Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler had been able to play foursomes on Sunday as they did on Friday, this segment would be about them. Instead, the duo played the final three holes in two over par, and posted a feeble, one-under par on day four. Their struggles opened the tee deck for a surgent team, and two stepped up.

Canadians Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor electrified the galleries with seven consecutive birdies, on their way to a nine-under par 63. The duo was unable to post any birdies over their final five holes, and they came home in 28-under par. Behind them, Davis Riley and Nick Hardy built a tidy round of their own. Seven birdies against zero bogies totalled 65 on their card, and they reached a magic number: thirty under par. Their tournament record was enough to hold off the Maple Leaf and every other duo in the field. With the victory, both players moved inside the top forty in the FedEx Cup race.

Davis Riley is clutch!! ?@NickHardy8 and @DavisRiley68 extend their lead to two after the birdie on 17 @Zurich_Classic. pic.twitter.com/J4OX6vFEAx

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 23, 2023

DP World Tour-Handa Japan: Herbert wins playoff in Omitama

No one would recommend the Lucas Herbert plan for travel to Japan from Orlando. The Aussie was delayed by storms in Florida, missed his connecting flight in New York, and ultimately arrived in time to play round one at the ISPS Handa Championship in Japan, the first-ever for the European circuit. With no prior knowledge of the course, Herbert ran off rounds of 67-63-68-67, to earn a spot in a playoff with Canada’s Aaron Cockerill.

Cockerill had acquitted himself well over the four days. He signed for two rounds of 64, and buttressed those with 68 and 69, to join the weary traveler at 15-under par. Just missing out on extra time was Scotland’s Calum Hill, who needed one final birdie over the closing four holes. He had played that stretch under par each previous day, but could not find the magical stroke on Sunday.

Both playoff disputants had runs at birdie and victory on playoff hole #1, and both missed by an eyelash. On the second extra hole, Herbert was wide-left with his tee shot, but found a safe patch, He negotiated an iron to within fifteen feet, then drained the putt for victory. If you missed his final two shots, enjoy them below. The win was Herbert’s third on the DP World Tour.

A superb birdie on the second play-off hole to secure victory ?

Congratulations @lhgolf5 ?#ISPSHandaChampionship pic.twitter.com/56WThJKtw8

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 23, 2023

Korn Ferry Tour-LECOM Suncoast: Gutschewski outlasts McAllister in playoff

It isn’t often that a score of 59 doesn’t figure in the top 15 golfers, let alone win the tournament. Mac Meissner posted the magic number on Friday, but the other three rounds were less than stellar, and he ultimately tied for 16th position. Who was the story? For a time, it was Kevin Dougherty. For all time, it was Scott Gutschewski. A player hampered by injuries and inconsistent play, finally earned a third KFT title, fifteen years after his last one.

At an age (46) when journeymen golfers consider alternate career paths or begin preparation for the senior circuit, Gutschewski found himself in a battel with a much more youthful Logan McAllister. After Kevin Dougherty, the third-round leader, gave up the ghost with a final-round 71, it was left to Gutschewski (68 for 263) and McAllister (66 for 263) to settle matters in extra time. Just missing out on the playoff at 264 were Chase Seiffert (69) and Ben Silverman (68.)

The leading duo returned to the 480-yard closing hole at Lakewood National. McAllister found the green, while Gutschewski was off the front edge of the green. With the stealth of a burglar, the journeyman pro rolled his fifty-feet birdie effort into the jaws of the hole. McAllister could not match, and Scottie G. had earned a bit of comfort as the KFT heads through spring, toward summer.

From off the green for the win ?@S_Gutschewski drains his putt to win the LECOM Suncoast Classic. pic.twitter.com/v7EiFAYcsC

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) April 23, 2023

PGA Tour Champions-Invited: Hensby moves to full status with first win

It took 58 holes of golf, including four extra as the sun dipped low, but Mark Hensby withstood everything that Charlie Wi could throw his way. Hensby even dunked his second shot in the water on the first playoff hole, but survived to continue the fight. When Wi flinched on the fourth playing of the 18th hole (one in regulation and three in extra time) and made double-bogey seven, Hensby’s mundane par five was enough to secure a title and playing privileges for the remainder of 2023.

Wi’s lie off the tee on hole 58 was so nasty, he had to take an unplayable lie. It did not get better for him, as he chopped his way to an eventual two-putt for seven. Hensby also drove in the rough on the final hole, but was able to extricate himself to the fairway, and reach the putting green in regulation figures.

Alex Cejka seemed invincible after rounds of 66 and 64 staked him to a lead on Saturday night. A different Cejka awakened on Sunday, played his first six holes in plus-three figures, and recovered agonizingly close to the top two. Cejka made birdie at the par-three 13th, and needed one more to return to -12. He played the final five holes in par figures, and finished one shot shy of the playoff.

Mark Hensby brings home the win after a four hole playoff @invitedcc ?

His first @PGATOUR-sanctioned victory since the 2004 @JDCLASSIC. pic.twitter.com/A4zMRW35zf

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 24, 2023

News

Tour Rundown: Bend, but don’t break

Published

3 weeks ago

Aug 4, 2025

Ronald Montesano

I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear

OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.

LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break

Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.

Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.

On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.

On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.

On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.

PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home

Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.

On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?

Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.

Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?

PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates

Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.

Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.

Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.

Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.

We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2025 Wyndham Championship

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 29, 2025

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.

Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.

Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.

News

BK’s Breakdowns: Kurt Kitayama’s Winning WITB, 3M Open

Published

4 weeks ago

Jul 28, 2025

Brian Knudson

Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.

Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX

3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX

7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)