China’s Carl Yuan claims first Korn Ferry title, takes big step towards claiming place on PGA Tour
- Yuan fires final round 6-under 65 to haul back overnight leader Peter Uihlein, wins on first playoff hole
- Triumph the perfect present for Chinese golfer who turns 25 on Monday
Carl Yuan Yechun became only the third mainland Chinese golfer to win on the Korn Ferry Tour, after a stunning playoff victory over Peter Uihlein at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open on Sunday.
The perfect present for his 25th birthday on Monday, a PGA Tour card is now well within his grasp.
Starting the final round five strokes back of overnight leader Uihlein, Yuan fired a closing 6-under 65 at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club to tie the American on 14-under.
A performance that included seven birdies over the final 18 holes finished with a curling 12ft birdie, delivering the knockout blow on the first playoff hole.
“It’s amazing to get my first win out here. It was a tough battle honestly, it wasn’t easy, still a bit unreal,” said Yuan, who rose to No 1 on the Korn Ferry Tour top 25 rankings.
“I knew coming into the day, I needed to get hot and make some birdies to have a chance and I did in the middle of the round. Really amazing to get it done this way.
Yuan made a crucial par save from the greenside bunker on the last hole to set the clubhouse mark at 14-under which Uihlein matched with his final round 70. Both players hit quality approach shots to about 12ft of the flag in the first sudden-death hole and after Yuan calmly rolled in his birdie putt, Uihlein missed his attempt.