American Michael Brennan claimed victory at the Bank of Utah Golf Championship, his maiden PGA Tour win at the Black Desert Resort.
Brennan had only made it into the event due to a sponsor exemption but, following rounds of 67, 65, 64 and 66, he cruised to a four shot win over Rico Hoey, who finished at 18-under.
Birdieing five of his first nine holes, the 23-year-old turned in a five-under 31 and, although he bogeyed the 10th, further birdies at the 12th and 14th meant he was well on his way to picking up a first PGA Tour win.
Parring the 15th, 16th and 17th, a closing bogey was only a blip on what was a dominant display.
With the victory, Brennan becomes eligible to take up PGA TOUR membership, which includes exempt status through 2027 and exemptions into the Players Championship, RBC Heritage and PGA Championship in 2026.
Should he take membership, would receive 500 FedExCup points and move to No. 95 in the FedExCup Fall standings.
Brennan is only the seventh player since 1970 to win his first PGA TOUR title within his first three career starts and the fifth player to win his first title in his third career start and first since Matt McCarty at last year’s Bank of Utah Championship.
Hoey collected his second career runner-up finish, having finished second as well at the ISCO Championship last year.
Defending champion Matt McCarty was tied third on 16-under, posting the second-best result by a defending champion this season.
Thorbjørn Olesen, David Ford and Ben Silverman were also finished joint third with McCarthy.
Meanwhile, Steven Alker closed in 3-under 69, highlighted by a hole-out eagle at the par-5 10th, to convert a five-stroke 36-hole lead into a seven-stroke victory and a wire-to-wire win at the Simmons Bank Championship.
Steven Alker opened with a sizzling 61 and didn’t let up as he completed a stunning victory.
The New Zealand golfer led by five after the first round, following his brilliant 11-under par opening effort, and then increased the margin between himself and the pack for the rest of the 54-hole event at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The 54-year-old went on a 44-hole bogey-free stretch amid his scoring spree, which included a six-under 66 in the second round and a three-under 69 in the final round.
His first of three bogeys on the week came at the par-4 ninth hole in the final round, when he found a greenside bunker and failed to get up and down for par.
But that became a very quick distant memory when he sensationally holed out for eagle on the very next hole, the par-5 10th, with his third shot from about 70m to stretch out to a seven-shot lead.
The win also catapulted him from fourth to the familiar position of leading the Charles Schwab Cup points standings ahead of the tour finale, the Charles Schwab Championship in Phoenix, Arizona, next month.
Former University of Arkansas golfer Tag Ridings was tied second on 13-under with Richard Green.
