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Hadwin Wins First PGA Event; Qualifies for Masters
March 12, 2017 | Men's Golf
Hadwin is second former Cardinal to win a PGA Tour event.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Former University of Louisville All-American Adam Hadwin picked up his first PGA Tour win by holding on Sunday at the Valspar Championship. .
Hadwin lost a two-shot lead with one swing on the 16th hole when his tee shot sailed into the water and led to double bogey. The 29-year-old Canadian kept his wits and closed with two pars, the final one good enough for a one-shot victory over Patrick Cantlay.
The victory sends him to Augusta National for the first time, and joins Ted Schulz as the only Cardinals to win on the PGA Tour.
Hadwin closed with an even-par 71, and it was hard work to the end. Tied for the lead, and with Cantlay having come up short into a bunker, Hadwin went just over the back of the green against the collar of the fringe. He used the leading edge of a sand wedge to send it down the slope to 2 feet from the cup.
Cantlay came up well short and missed his 15-foot par putt to force a playoff. He closed with a 68.
Hadwin is the third Canadian to qualify for the Masters, joining RSM Classic winner Mackenzie Hughes and 2003 champion Mike Weir.
Hadwin finished at 14-under 270 after a duel that featured big putts along the back nine of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.
The Canadian had a four-shot lead with 10 holes to play when Cantlay started to apply enormous pressure with an approach into 3 feet at No. 9 and a 15-foot birdie putt to start the back nine. Cantlay had 7 feet for a third straight birdie on the par-5 11th when Hadwin holed a birdie putt from 25 feet to keep a two-shot lead.
The big blow appeared to come at the par-3 13th, where Cantlay hit a 7-iron at the flag and came up about 8 feet short. Hadwin played it safe out to the fat of the green, and his 55-foot putt swirled into the cup to keep the lead at two shots when Cantlay made his birdie
Cantlay made his fifth birdie in six holes with a 20-footer on the par-5 14th, only to fall two behind again with another poor bunker shot on the 15th.
Cantlay was only 1 of 6 in sand saves for the week.
That's when Hadwin let him back into the mix one last time with his worst swing of the swing, letting the fairway metal dangle over his shoulder as the ball headed to the middle of the pond.
The final mistake belonged to Cantlay, and that was enough for Hadwin to break through for his first PGA Tour victory.
Jim Herman (68) and PGA Tour rookie Dominic Bozzelli (67) tied for third, two strokes behind Hadwin.
Hadwin lost a two-shot lead with one swing on the 16th hole when his tee shot sailed into the water and led to double bogey. The 29-year-old Canadian kept his wits and closed with two pars, the final one good enough for a one-shot victory over Patrick Cantlay.
The victory sends him to Augusta National for the first time, and joins Ted Schulz as the only Cardinals to win on the PGA Tour.
Hadwin closed with an even-par 71, and it was hard work to the end. Tied for the lead, and with Cantlay having come up short into a bunker, Hadwin went just over the back of the green against the collar of the fringe. He used the leading edge of a sand wedge to send it down the slope to 2 feet from the cup.
Cantlay came up well short and missed his 15-foot par putt to force a playoff. He closed with a 68.
Hadwin is the third Canadian to qualify for the Masters, joining RSM Classic winner Mackenzie Hughes and 2003 champion Mike Weir.
Hadwin finished at 14-under 270 after a duel that featured big putts along the back nine of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.
The Canadian had a four-shot lead with 10 holes to play when Cantlay started to apply enormous pressure with an approach into 3 feet at No. 9 and a 15-foot birdie putt to start the back nine. Cantlay had 7 feet for a third straight birdie on the par-5 11th when Hadwin holed a birdie putt from 25 feet to keep a two-shot lead.
The big blow appeared to come at the par-3 13th, where Cantlay hit a 7-iron at the flag and came up about 8 feet short. Hadwin played it safe out to the fat of the green, and his 55-foot putt swirled into the cup to keep the lead at two shots when Cantlay made his birdie
Cantlay made his fifth birdie in six holes with a 20-footer on the par-5 14th, only to fall two behind again with another poor bunker shot on the 15th.
Cantlay was only 1 of 6 in sand saves for the week.
That's when Hadwin let him back into the mix one last time with his worst swing of the swing, letting the fairway metal dangle over his shoulder as the ball headed to the middle of the pond.
The final mistake belonged to Cantlay, and that was enough for Hadwin to break through for his first PGA Tour victory.
Jim Herman (68) and PGA Tour rookie Dominic Bozzelli (67) tied for third, two strokes behind Hadwin.
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