Italian Stefano Mazzoli drained a 24-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday and earned a dramatic win at the Corales Puntacana Championship by one stroke in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Mazzoli closed with his second consecutive day 6-under-par 66, finishing at 20-under 268 at Puntacana Resort and Club. The 29-year-old began the final round four shots off the lead before earning his first PGA Tour victory in just his third career start.
“I’m just grateful and honored to win on tour,” Mazzoli said after the victory. “That was a dream since I was a kid.”
Mazzoli earned $720,000 from the $4 million purse and an exemption on the PGA Tour through 2027.
Mazzoli reached the turn in 4-under 32 with five birdies on the front nine, then added a birdie at the par-5 12th before moving into contention as third-round leader Todd Clements of England stumbled on the back nine. After Mazzoli birdied the par-5 14th, he remained one behind heading to the closing hole.
“I took a look (at the leaderboard) obviously during the round, but since I was back behind, for me it was always about making one more birdie, one more birdie, one more birdie and see how it was going to look like going in the last couple of holes,” Mazzoli said.
His approach at the par-4 18th left him well outside the hole, but Mazzoli converted the lengthy putt to reach 20 under for the first time all week and force the final groups to chase him.
“Obviously we had a good read and I had my caddie double-check the line,” Mazzoli said. “Then I just tried to hit a putt as committed as possible and it went in perfectly with the last roll, so really pleased.”
Gordon Sargent shot a 67 and tied Clements for second at 19-under 269. Sargent had an opportunity to join Mazzoli with a birdie at No. 18 but could not convert from 42 feet out.
Clements carried a two-stroke lead into the round and remained in control before making a double bogey at the par-4 13th. He dropped another shot at No. 16 and entered the final hole needing a birdie to force a playoff, but his attempt stopped short. A 71 left him tied with Sargent.
“Look, it’s pretty gutting, but it’s one of those things. And golf doesn’t define me,” Clements said. “I think I gave it everything out there. I dealt with the emotions really well, I stayed in my lane.”
Will Gordon matched Mazzoli’s 66 to climb into a tie for fourth at 18 under. Ben James, who began the day alone in second, carded a 70 and joined Gordon after producing only one birdie over his final 11 holes.
–Field Level Media
