Joaquin Niemann has had greatness written all over him from the start, so it’s no surprise that he is a winner on the PGA Tour.
The 20-year-old became the first player from Chile to win on the circuit, closing with a 6-under-par 64 to capture A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier by six strokes over Tom Hoge on the Old White TPC Course https://tpc.com › oldwhite at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
“I just never thought this moment was possible,” said Niemann, who has won four pro tournaments, one as an amateur. “I can’t wait to go back home and celebrate with all of my friends.
“I was just feeling like I was going to win the tournament from the first day. I was in that mindset. I was just trying not to think of anything else. My caddie made me laugh to try to forget about it. The last couple of holes I was feeling great.
“Normally I’m not too excited. I normally don’t do fist-pumps. The emotion on the last couple of holes was crazy. Just making those putts on the last three holes was unbelievable. I couldn’t resist.”
After Hoge birdied five of the first eight holes to tie for the lead, 54-hole leader Niemann pulled ahead with birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th before adding birdies and fist-pumps on the last three holes to finish at 21-under 259.
Niemann, who was the No. 1 amateur in the world before turning pro two years ago, tied for 29th at the Greenbrier as an amateur on a sponsor’s exemption in 2017 and tied for fifth in his first event on the PGA Tour in 2018.
Hoge’s whose momentum was halted by two bogeys around the turn, finished at 65, while Brian Harman also shot 65 and was seven shots back in a tie for third with Harris English, who totaled 67, Richy Werenski and Nate Lashley, who both had 69s.
Sebastian Munoz of Colombia shot 66 to tie for seventh with seventh with rookies Scottie Scheffler, who had a 69, and Robby Shelton, who finished at 70, while Viktor Hovland of Norway, another rookie, posted a 66 to tie for 10th with Matt Jones of Australia, who wound up a 66, and Mark Hubbard, who came in at 67.
Defending champion Kevin Na of Diamond Bar tied for 14th after a 68.
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