Patrick Reed trying to replicate idol at Augusta

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LAS VEGAS – Kamaiu Johnson, whose journey against adversity amidst mutliple PGA TOUR sponsor exemptions captivated golf fans this winter, shot a final-round 70 to overcome a top-tier field and capture the APGA Tour Las Vegas tournament Tuesday at TPC Las Vegas. The 28 year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, started the day in a three-way tie for first place and managed his way at even par around the 7,081-yard, par-71 TPC layout until carding a birdie three on the 14th hole to eke out the one-stroke victory over Nyasha Mauchaza of Port St. Lucie, Florida, with a two-day total of 138. The players navigated winds estimated at 25 mph in pursuit of the title as the APGA Tour made its debut at the prestigious PGA TOUR-owned course. Tommy Schaff of Ridgeland, South Carolina, was another stroke back at 140 after his three-under 68 with Marcus Manley of Kissimmee, Florida, and Rovonta Young of Huntsville, Alabama, tied for third at 141. In fourth place were APGA Tour stalwarts Willie Mack and Landon Lyons at 142. Young and Lyons have APGA Tour victories this year and longtime APGA Tour star Mack played as a sponsor exemption in two PGA TOUR events this winter. Johnson was selected for a sponsor exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in January but his dream was shattered when he contracted COVID-19 and had to withdraw. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Honda Classic responded with exemption invitations later that week and Johnson was able to compete on the big stage in those events. International media picked up on the narrative of dream shattered and revived, introducing Johnson to golf fans around the world. He sank a 15-footer for the birdie at 14 and then knocked in an eight-footer at 18 to avoid a playoff with Maukaza and pocket the $7,500 top prize out of the $25,000 purse. “The whole experience of playing at the PGA TOUR level has been a great process,” said Johnson, who dealt with 40 mph winds in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Emerald City Classic last month. “I went back to all those events and relied on what I learned. It all has made me believe in myself and it helped me today.” The APGA Tour title is his first since winning the APGA Tour Championship tournament last September, leading to his sponsor exemption adventures. Johnson and the full field of the APGA Tour’s top players will now travel to Arizona next week for APGA Tour Scottsdale April 18-20 at TPC Scottsdale. The APGA Tour then travels to PGA of America-owned Valhalla Country Club for APGA Tour Louisville in May before playing two more PGA Tour-owned prestige venues, TPC New Orleans and TPC Deere Run (Silvis, Illinois) in June and July. The 59-player field included Alfonso Ribeiro, the TV personality and host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, who supports the APGA Tour’s mission of bringing greater diversity to the sport of golf. Ribeiro is a top-notch celebrity golfer and he represents the PGA TOUR as a Brand Ambassador for the PGA TOUR Champions circuit. The tournament was conducted under social-distancing and health/safety guidelines in conjunction with regional authorities.

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LIUZHOU, CHINA — Amateur Cheng Jin carded a third-round, 2-under 70 to extend his lead to nine strokes and remain on-course for a wire-to-wire victory at the PGA TOUR Series-China Mainland China Qualifying Tournament. In warmer conditions compared to the first two days, Jin nailed his fifth birdie of the round at the par-5 18th to move to 7-under overall, having started the day with a three-shot lead at Wolong Lake Golf Club. Zihong Zhang, 18, moved into a tie for second as the 6-foot-6 amateur shot 71 to finish at 2-over with Dongyu Wang (75), Jin’s former national amateur teammate, heading into the final round of the 72-hole stroke play event. Guozhen Xu recorded the day’s lowest score, a 68, to lie joint fourth alongside Yixin Xing (74) and Cilin Zhou (73) at 4 over. Kaiyan Shi’s 69 vaulted him 13 places into a tie for eighth as players seek to secure full Tour cards for the 2018 season, which starts this month. Jin, who won the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Hong Kong, missed a 3-foot par putt on the first hole, but the 19-year-old quickly regrouped to pick up shots on Nos. 5, 7, 8, 13 and 18 to move clear of the field. “As usual, I will just play my best and stick to my own game,� said Jin, who had five top-10 finishes on the PGA TOUR Series-China in 2014 and 2015—including a victory at the 2014 Nine Dragons Open when he was 16. “I just need to keep striking the ball well. I think my ball striking has been great this week.� The University of Southern California sophomore will have some schoolwork to catch up on when he returns to the U.S., and he remains undecided if and when he will turn pro regardless of whether he secures PGA TOUR Series-China status this week. “I think it’s a great platform that the China Golf Association and PGA TOUR China are giving us, not only for the Chinese players but also many foreign players trying to use this to go to the Web.com Tour or on to a higher stage,� said Jin. “I think as a Chinese I am doing what I am supposed to do – grabbing the opportunity. I’m really thankful to have this opportunity.� Zhang was third after an opening 71, shot a shaky second-round 76 but returned to the top three after another 71. However, the towering teen was still slightly frustrated after mixing six birdies with five bogeys. “I got six birdies, but I made a lot of mistakes. I had two three-putts and missed some short putts, so I think I can do better,� said Zhang, who made his first and only PGA TOUR Series-China cut at last year’s Clearwater Bay Open.

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