Brett Drewitt (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR)

Australian Brett Drewitt celebrated Father’s Day with his first victory in his 116th career start on Sunday at the Lincoln Land Championship presented by LRS.

“I was talking to my parents last night and I was kind of thinking about how cool it would be to win on Father’s Day,” said Drewitt, a father to his 18-month-old Brady. “I didn’t say anything to my parents because lately my words have been coming back to bite me, but it’s a surreal feeling.”

At 19-under 265, Drewitt edged a trio of players by one stroke. In the end, he carded five birdies and two bogeys on Sunday for a closing 3-under 68, but perhaps more importantly, he parred his final two holes. The par-3 17th (215 yards) and the par-4 18th (451 yards) played as the two toughest holes on the course on Sunday.

Playing in the penultimate group, Drewitt had to wait to see if rookie Austen Truslow would make birdie to force a playoff. Nervously hitting shots on the driving range, Drewitt knew it was over when fellow Korn Ferry Tour pro Tag Ridings came running towards him to shower him in beer.

“I look over and saw Tag giving me the fist-pump from by the 18th green, and then they started running over towards me and Cam, my caddie, said, ‘Man you did it,’” laughed Drewitt. “At that point I was just bracing myself for the beer to get sprayed all over me.”

The win celebrates a high point in what had previously been a disappointing season for the 29-year-old. He is one of six players who have played in all 19 events thus far but entering the week he had made just six cuts. Including this tournament, he had competed in 13 consecutive weeks.

“It’s surreal right now; it’s been a hard road over the last couple of years,” said Drewitt, who entered the week 73rd in the points standings. “This year has been a rollercoaster. When I got to the PGA TOUR, I led in ball-striking out here [in 2016]. I just trusted that I still had it, even if it might not show in my stats. And then the putts started dropping and that’s just the way it goes.”

Drewitt’s win came at the expense of rookies Austen Truslow and Harry Hall, along with Ben Kohles, who finished one shot back. Truslow and Kohles each had long birdie attempts to tie at the final hole, while Hall needed to get up and down for par to remain at 19-under. Hall, an Englishman competing in his fifth event, missed a downhill three-footer for par to slip one stroke off the lead. Still, the runner-up finishes were the best in the young careers of Truslow and Hall.

With the win, Drewitt moves from 73rd to 18th in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings.

SUNDAY NOTES:

* Sunday’s weather: Cloudy and breezy with a high of 88 degrees and wind SW at 10-15 mph.

* Drewitt emerged atop a leaderboard that saw five different players claim a share of the lead on Sunday. The win is his first as a professional on the Korn Ferry Tour in his 116th start, and first in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned since the 2014 United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open on PGA TOUR Series-China. He is the second Australian to win in the last three weeks, joining Curtis Luck (Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship).  

* Drewitt ranked second for the week in Greens in Regulation after hitting 64 of 72 over the four rounds. He finished with just 107 putts, including 25 on Sunday.

* This week’s purse was $600,000 with $108,000 going to the champion, Brett Drewitt. Drewitt also receives 500 Korn Ferry Tour points.

* The combined 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour schedule will conclude with 25 PGA TOUR cards awarded at the 2021 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz, with an additional 25 cards awarded at the conclusion of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

* The par-4 18th hole (451 yards) played as the toughest hole on Sunday with a scoring average of 4.388.

* The par-5 16th hole (529 yards) played as the easiest hole on Sunday with a scoring average of 4.313.

Final-Round Leaderboard – Top scores

Pos.NameScores
1Brett Drewitt67-62-68-68—265 (-19)
T2Harry Hall69-62-70-65—266 (-18)
T2Ben Kohles65-68-66-67—266 (-18)
T2Austen Truslow67-67-63-69—266 (-18)
T5Two tied at267 (-17)

About Inside Golf

Australia's Golf News Leader, Inside Golf gives you in-depth coverage of Australian golf news, golf events, golf travel and holiday destinations, Australian and international golf course reviews, the hottest new golf gear and tips and drills to improve your golf game. Written by award-winning journalists, Inside Golf also features interviews with Australia's top professional golfers, the game's rising stars, industry leaders and golf equipment manufacturers. You can even win great golf prizes and equipment. It’s all in Inside Golf. FREE at Australian golf courses, driving ranges and golf retailers across Australia.

Connect

Follow on Twitter Connect on Facebook View all Posts Visit Website

Related Posts