Nico Echavarria beats Tiger Woods’ course record, wins Zozo Championship

INZAI CITY, Japan — Nico Echavarria claimed the Zozo Championship for his second PGA Tour victory, taking pictures 3-under 67 on Sunday to win by a shot over Max Greyserman and Justin Thomas.

Echavarria, a Colombian who performed on the College of Arkansas, birdied two of the ultimate three holes — together with the 18th — so as to add to the title he gained final yr on the Puerto Rico Open.

He completed at 20-under 260 on the Narashino Nation Membership, situated about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from central Tokyo. It is course document, topping the 261 Tiger Woods shot in successful in 2019.

“It is unbelievable to win a event that Tiger’s gained,” Echavarria mentioned, establishing a joke. “That is my second victory, so I simply want 80 extra victories to catch him. I am on my method, although.”

Echavarria mentioned the win final yr helped construct his confidence.

“I do not assume I might have gained this week with out the victory in Puerto Rico,” he mentioned. “I pulled quite a bit from that second within the final spherical on Sunday in Puerto Rico, I used it quite a bit this week to remain affected person, keep calm.”

Echavarria hugged his girlfriend, Claudia De Antonio. on the 18th after the victory in what he known as “a really particular second.”

“It is surreal,” he mentioned. “It has been a very good yr for me, I simply have not had that prime consequence. I have been very constant, I’ve realized quite a bit this yr. To complete the yr this manner is, it is unbelievable, particularly doing it right here in Japan in such a tremendous nation.”

Thomas, who performed within the closing threesome with Greyserman and Echavarria, closed with a 66. He’s making an attempt to win his first PGA title in 2 1/2 years. His final was the 2022 PGA Championship, which gave him 15 PGA titles.

“Clearly bummed and disenchanted, however I performed so effectively,” Thomas mentioned. “I performed lots effectively sufficient to win the event. Hit so many good putts in the present day that simply did not go in, that is the distinction.”

Greyserman, making an attempt for his first tour win, took a one-shot lead with a 30-foot birdie on the 14th – his solely birdie on the again 9. He closed with a 65 on the Narashino Nation Membership and has been runner-up in three of his final 5 PGA occasions.

He is a detailed good friend of Echavarria’s. However the loss, after all, harm.

“You recognize, I did not fairly execute down the stretch after I wanted to. I imply, Nico stepped up there and he hit an incredible second shot (on 18). He earned it.”