Wyndham Clark broke through for his first win on the PGA Tour at the Wells Fargo Championship. The 29-year-old American scored a stunning four-shot victory at Quail Hollow Club. Compatriot Xander Schauffele finished in solo second place. Adam Scott returned a top 5 result.
Clark earned his breakthrough victory at his 134th PGA Tour start. It was the University of Oregon graduate’s sixth top 10 this season. Clark carded 67, 67 and 63 during the opening three days to take the 54-hole lead with a two-shot buffer into Sunday. The world No. 80 made a nervous bogey at the first hole before Schauffele made birdies at the 4th and 7th holes to lead the tournament. Facing a one-shot deficit, Clark responded by pouring in five birdies over the next eight holes to move fours shots clear of Schauffele with three holes to play. Clark was steady over the tough trio of holes known as The Green Mile and signed for a 3-under 68 final round. It was his maiden win as a professional golfer on any tour. He joins Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Max Homa as players who broke through for their first PGA Tour win at this event.
Schauffele, aged 29, looked in position to claim his 8th PGA Tour title after surging into the lead seven holes into the final round. However, a bogey at the 9th hole led the world No. 5 into an untidy back nine finish that included two birdies and two bogeys. Schauffele closed with a 1-under 70 to get to 15-under.
Fellow American Harris English (69) and England’s Tyrrell Hatton (70) claimed a share of third place at 12-under.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Australia’s Adam Scott were one shot further back at 11-under and in a share of fifth place. It was Scott’s best finish on the PGA Tour this season.
Defending champion Max Homa finished in a tie for 8th place at 9-under after a final round 1-under 70.
The PGA Tour moves to Texas for next week’s AT&T Byron Nelson staged at TPC Craig Ranch. South Korea’s KH Lee is the defending champion.
1. Wyndham Clark -19
2. Xander Schauffele -15
T3. Tyrrell Hatton -12
T3. Harris English -12
T5. Adam Scott -11
T5. Tommy Fleetwood -11
7. Michael Kim -10
Other Australians
T59. Harrison Endycott +2
T59. Cam Davis +2
MC. Jason Day
Photo credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
