Frankie Capan III just misses first PGA win, finishes third

AVONDALE La Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin shot a -under in alternate-shot play Sunday to become first-time PGA Tour winners by one stroke at the Zurich Classic They finished at -under at the Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana and Novak decisively broke through after a pair of top-three finishes this month the last a playoff loss to Justin Thomas a week ago at the RBC Heritage Play was delayed by weather for just over minutes with Novak on Griffin on the eighth hole Masters champion Rory McIlroy and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry the defending champions were in contention through holes but fell to th six shots behind with three late bogeys Danish identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard narrowly missed out on a first PGA Tour win finishing second after a Novak and Griffin began the PGA Tour s only club event three shots ahead but were caught by Frankie Capan III the North Oaks Minn native and teammate Jake Knapp before pulling back ahead when Griffin made a birdie put from nearly feet on the par- th That gave the eventual winners a two-shot lead after Capan had pulled his tee shot on into the water left of the green Novak s tee shot also went farther left than intended and he had his hand over his chest as the ball stopped near the water s edge But the clutch putt by Griffin on allowed his crew to win with a par on McIlroy and Lowry were just three shots off the lead when they bogeyed the -yard par- th with each mishitting a chip before McIlroy missed a par putt from just inside feet Despite their late fade they had a large supportive gallery on McIlroy acknowledged fans with several waves before Lowry made a crowd-pleasing birdie putt A expressing happiness McIlroy retrieved the ball from the hole and flipped it into the water The Hojgaard twins were within a stroke of the lead when Nicolai made a -foot birdie putt on the par- th On Rasmus narrowly missed a -foot birdie putt to tie for the lead the ball stopping on edge of the hole But that was as close as they would get Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo the PGA Tour rookies who led after each of the first two days finished with a and tied for eighth at under They set the tournament better-ball record Thursday with a Related Articles North Oaks Frankie Capan III in final group Sunday at Zurich Classic seeking first PGA Tour accomplishment A green jacket for Rory McIlroy Irishman finishes career grand slam Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are back in the fold at the Masters Rory McIlroy and hopes for a Masters green jacket lie with his willingness to suffer heartache Daylight saving time is coming and the golf industry can t wait