RENO – A steady closing round led Andrew Putnam to his first career PGA Tour title, a four-point victory Sunday in the Barracuda Championship.
In the tournament’s Modified Stableford Scoring system, Putnam racked up nine points in the final round to finish with 47 and hold off runner-up Chad Campbell at Montreux Golf and Country Club.
In the scoring system, players receive eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, zero for a par, one for a bogey and minus-3 for a double bogey or worse.
Campbell cut his deficit from four points to two with a birdie on the 72nd hole, but Putnam followed with his own birdie, sinking a 23-foot putt.
“I felt like no matter what, I was going to recharge here, just because of how great a spot it is and beautiful course and just a fun place to be,” Putnam said. “Just being relaxed helped me play my best golf. I didn’t start off my best, but after that I caught fire. …
“So cool to have my wife and my parents here. One of my friends flew in last night. And, yeah, just a dream week for me.”
Putnam had five birdies and a lone bogey in the last round. Campbell gained 11 points Sunday — six birdies, one bogey — to wind up at 43.
“These last two days felt really good,” Campbell said. “Really hit the ball well and putted great yesterday, and didn’t putt quite as well today, but definitely happy with the way I played. Obviously disappointed I wasn’t able to finish it off, but it happens. Definitely moving in the right direction, though.”
Putnam, 29, was playing in his 49th career PGA Tour event, his 24th this season. His best previous result was a tie for second in the FedEx St. Jude Classic earlier this year.
John Oda and J.J. Spaun, who each gained eight points in the final round, tied for third at 37.
Ollie Schniederjans, the first-round leader after a 17, added 10 points Sunday to take fifth place at 36.
William McGirt made the biggest move of the day. He scored 20 points to jump from 49th place to sixth.
Sam Saunders, who held second place after the third round, stumbled to a minus-1 score Sunday. He wound up at 34, tied with Chris Stroud (eight points on Sunday) for seventh.
Vaughn Taylor (15 points on Sunday) and Brandon Harkins (12) tied for ninth with 33 points.
The alternate-field event ran concurrently with the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
–Field Level Media