PGA Tour: Austin Eckroat wins Cognizant Classic, Shane Lowry & David Skinns fall away
- Published
Austin Eckroat won his first title in his second full year on the PGA Tour
Cognizant Classic final leaderboard |
|---|
-17 A Eckroat (US); -14 E van Rooyen (SA), M-W Lee (Aus); -13 C Young (US), J Knapp (US), S Lowry (Ire), D Skinns (Eng), K-H Lee (Kor) |
Selected others: -12 M Laird (Sco); -10 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), R McIlroy (NI) |
Austin Eckroat held off the chasing pack - including Ireland's Shane Lowry and England's David Skinns - to win his first PGA Tour title on a Monday finish at the rain-delayed Cognizant Classic.
The 25-year-old American was 15 under after seven holes on Sunday when play was suspended at the Florida course.
On Monday, Eckroat added three birdies and a bogey to finish 17 under and seal victory on his 50th PGA Tour start.
Lowry and Skinns finished in a five-way tie for fourth place on 13 under.
The pair shared the lead with Eckroat after three rounds at Palm Beach Gardens, but had dropped off the pace on Sunday before resuming their final rounds on Monday.
European Ryder Cup star Lowry saw his hopes of catching Eckroat hit by twice finding water, while 42-year-old Skinns carded a final-round 71 to earn his best finish in his 27 tour appearances.
Eckroat picked up where he left off, playing confidently to maintain the lead throughout and seal a three-shot victory, which secures him a place at the Masters next month.
South Africa's Erik van Rooyen, who was the clubhouse leader on Sunday after finishing on 14-under with a final-round 63, tied for second with Australia's Min-Woo Lee.