South African Aldrich Potgieter defeated Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk in a playoff for his first career PGA Tour win at the Rocket Classic.
Potgieter held a two-stroke lead heading into the final round, looking for the first win of his career after narrowly missing a win at the Mexico Open, where he finished second to Brian Campbell in a playoff. Meanwhile five players sat at 17-under tied for second place. Six of the top nine players on the leaderboard through three rounds were seeking their first PGA Tour victory.
During the final round, Kirk took the lead after shooting a five-under-67. Potgieter and Greyserman tied Kirk for the lead when they both made birdie on the 17th hole. The two had birdie chances to win the tournament on 18 but missed, forcing a three-man playoff with Kirk.
All three players found the fairway and hit the green in regulation on the first playoff hole. They stayed neck and neck with two-putt pars before heading to the par-3 15th for the second playoff hole.
Kirk was up first and hit his tee shot to just under 60 feet away from the hole, while Potgieter landed on the green but rolled off the back into the rough. Greyserman hit his tee shot to 10 feet for the best birdie opportunity of the three. Kirk made bogey, eliminating himself from the playoff, while Greyserman and Potgieter headed to a third playoff hole.
Potgieter found the fairway bunker with his tee shot while Greyserman landed in the middle of the fairway. Both players hit their approach shots to 15 feet. Another pair of pars sent them to the fourth playoff hole: the par-5 14th.
There, both players had eagle opportunities (Potgieter a 19-foot putt and Greyersman a 28- footer) but made birdies to extend the playoff to a fifth hole.
Playing the 15th hole again, both players hit the green with their tee shots. Greyserman had 34 feet for birdie and Potgieter had 17 feet. Greyserman just missed his putt left, leaving Potgieter an opportunity to win the tournament. Potgieter took advantage and hit the 17-foot putt in the center of the hole for his first career win.
Other highlights from the Rocket Classic include Jake Knapp shooting a 11-under-61 on Friday to set the course record at Detroit Golf Club, narrowly beating the fresh course record shot by Potgieter and Kevin Roy (a 10-under-62) the first day. This is the second time Knapp has set a course record this season. The first came when he shot a 12-under-59 at PGA National Resort (Champions Course) in round one of the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. He is the only player this season to have two rounds of 61 or lower.
Next, the PGA Tour heads to Illinois for the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run. For many players in this event, it will be the last chance to qualify for The Open Championship. Last year’s winner, Davis Thompson, will look to defend his title.
