It was rookie Xander Schauffele who earned his first PGA Tour victory, not Sebastian Munoz.
Schauffele, of San Diego, sank a 3-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Greenbrier Classic by one stroke over Robert Streb on the Old White TPC Course at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
“The U.S. Open was a huge moment in my career,” said the 23-year-old Schauffele, who tied for fifth last month at Erin Hills. “It was one of the biggest stages, and for me to be calm and collected throughout the week and just kind of hang on and tie for fifth was huge for me mentally.
“It kind of gave me the confidence and allowed me to play to win this week.”
Schauffele, who was an All-American at San Diego State after winning the 2011 California State High School Championship while at Scripps Ranch High, closed with a 3-under-par 67 and finished at 14-under 266.
Streb, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2014 McGladrey Classic, put up a 69 that included a costly double bogey-6 on the 14th hole, while Munoz shot 72 and was two shots back in a tie for third with Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe and USC, who carded a 69.
“I’ll take it as a positive,” said Munoz, 24, the 2016 Club Colombia Championship winner on the Web.com Tour who recorded by far his best result as a rookie on the PGA Tour. “It’s my best finish ever. It’s not like I can be mad about it.”
Russell Henley and Kelly Kraft recorded 69s to tie for fifth, another stroke behind, while Ryan Blaum posted a 64 that equaled the low score of the day to wind up four down in a tie for seventh with Tony Finau, who totaled 68.
Danny Lee of New Zealand, who won the Greenbrier two years ago but was unable to defend his title last year because the tournament was canceled by massive flooding, had a 69 to finish five behind in a tie for ninth with J.B. Holmes (68), Nick Taylor (69) of Canada, Alex Cejka (64) of Germany and Chad Campbell (67).
Jimmy Walker tied for 18th with a 65, Phil Mickelson shot 64 to finish in a tie for 20th that included Patrick Reed, who had a 67, and Bubba Watson tied for 70th after a 72.
Davis Love III, trying to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history at 53, struggled to a 75 and slid 24 spots to a tie for 29th.
