Sunday, December 22, 2024

Power rallies as Echavarria clinches Masters place in Japan – News – Irish Golf Desk

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Seamus Power made six birdies in a final round 66 to finish 13th behind Colombia’s Nico Echavarria in the ZOZO Championship in Japan.

The West Waterford man missed a great chance to contend for his third PGA Tour title when he crashed to a two-over 72 in round three at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

Scores

But he bounced back in the final round, shooting four-under-par to clinch his fourth top 13 finish ($163,880) in his last five starts and jump one spot to 52nd in the FedExCup standings.

With just three events of the Fall Series remaining, Power is on track to finish the season inside the Aon Next 10 (51st to 60th), which will earn him starts in two of the 2025 signature events, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.

He can also make the opening signature event, The Sentry, from January 2-4 if he wins one of the remaining Fall Series events.

As for Echavarria, the Colombian (30) closed with a 67 to edge out Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman by one stroke on 20-under and claim his second PGA Tour title.

“It’s surreal,” Echavarria said after adding to his win in the 2023 Puerto Rico Open to claim a spot in the 2025 Masters. “This moment is very special.”

On his Masters debut, he added: “Yeah, I’m very excited to go for the first time to Augusta, I’ve never been. 

“I was waiting to win myself that trip before going, and we’ve done that, so we’re going to be very happy to play the Masters in a couple of months.”

In Korea, Byeong Hun An defeated fellow South Korean Tom Kim in a playoff to secure his second DP World Tour title at the Genesis Championship.

Kim was a shot clear after An lipped out for bogey at the penultimate hole.

Both players hit their approaches to eight feet at the par-five 18th, but An made his, and Kim lipped out, sending them to sudden death as they carded five-under 67s to finish a shot ahead of Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia on 17 under.

Returning to the 18th for the playoff, Kim made a bogey after putting his second in the grandstand and An single putted for birdie to claim his first win on the DP World Tour since the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

“It’s great, I’ve had a great season, obviously,” An said. “It’s been too long (to win) on the main Tour. 

“All I tried to do is show some great golf in front of the home fans, it’s been a while since I’ve played in front of them.

“It feels amazing. It’s a bit of a shame that Tom had a bit of a mess there, but it’s been a great tournament for me; I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Gouveia, who began the week ranked 154th on the Race to Dubai, jumped to 100th to make the top 114 who retained their cards.

On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire fell one spot in 53rd in the Race to CME Globe standings when she finished tied for 35th in the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.

The Co Cavan star, who has fallen from 28th in the world to 40th over the past 12 months, made four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey in a one-under 71 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.

She finished on eight-under-par, 15 shots behind China’s Ruoning Yin ($450,000), who shot 65 to claim her third victory of the season by a shot from Thailand’s Jeeno Thitukul, who shot 66, on 23-under.

Korea’s Haeran Ryu shot 67 to finish two shots behind Yin on 21 under.

Maguire heads to Japan this week for the TOTO Japan Classic, looking to consolidate her place in the top 60 in the points standings and qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship from November 21-24.

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