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SPORTS Monday 23 SepteMber 2019
Munoz wins Sanderson Farms

in playoff for 1st PGA Tour title

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Se- 12-foot birdie putt on the hole, he played it to per-
bastian Munoz of Colombia par-5 14th, got up-and- fection with a big drive, an
didn't think he was good down from a bunker on the approach to 15 feet below
enough for the PGA Tour reachable 15th for birdie, the hole and the most im-
unless he watched Carlos and made it three straight portant putt of his young
Ortiz of Mexico, his team- birdies with a 12-foot putt. career. The 26-year-old
mate at North Texas, reach He closed with a 66, and from Bogota, who played
the big leagues. He wasn't that looked like it might be his college golf at North
sure he was good enough enough. Texas, poured in the birdie
to win until watching Joa- Byeong Hun An made putt to join Im at 18-under Sebastian Munoz, of Colombia, kisses the trophy after winning
the Sanderson Farms Championship golf tournament in Jack-
quin Niemann of Chile win consecutive bogeys to fall 270. "We just decided on a son, Miss., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019.
last week. out of the mix. Ortiz, who line, keep it as simple as we Associated Press
Munoz was on his own late played with Munoz in the can and just strike the putt,"
Sunday afternoon in the final group, couldn't get a Munoz said. out hot, he abbreviated his Munoz rolled in the par putt
Sanderson Farms Champi- putt to fall. The playoff on the 18th hole swing and it came out some and the celebration was
onship, and he delivered Munoz lost two good scor- wasn't as clean. 30 yards short. His chip-and- on.
all the right shots. ing opportunities with a Im went left into the Ber- run rolled out to just under "I'm speechless," he said.
Down to his last stroke, Mu- drive well right of the fair- muda rough and caught 4 feet. Im did well to pitch This is the first time since
noz holed a 15-foot birdie way on the 14th, and then a flier, sending the ball well out of rough to just over 6 the tournament began in
putt for a 2-under 70 to flubbing a lob shot left of over the green against the feet by the hole, but his par 1986 that it was not held
force a playoff with Sung- the 15th green that went grandstand. Munoz was putt didn't even touch the the same week as anoth-
jae Im. And in the playoff, into the bunker, leading in the right rough and, ex- cup and he started walking er PGA Tour event with a
he let Im make the more to bogey. Down to his last pecting the ball to come soon after he hit it. stronger field.q
crucial mistake. Munoz hit a
chip-and-run to just under 4
feet and made the par for
his first PGA Tour victory.
"Jaco's win gave me the
belief I needed, the little ex-
tra belief I'm good enough,
I'm here," Munoz said.
It was the first time in tour
history that players from
different South American
countries won in succes-
sive weeks. Camilo Villegas
of Colombia won the final
two events of the FedEx
Cup playoffs in 2008.
Munoz not only has a two-
year exemption, he will
start next year on Maui at
the Sentry Tournament of
Champions, compete at
The Players Championship
for the first time and then
head to Augusta National
for the Masters.
He knew everything that
was at stake. He just tried
to forget about it when he
reached the 18th green
knowing he needed birdie.
"I was lucky enough to
keep my focus on 18," Mu-
noz said. "I was just thinking
about striking it, not on the
perks. Not on how it could
change my life."
Niemann won by six shots
at the Greenbrier. Munoz
had it far more difficult.
He was among four play-
ers in the mix over the back
nine at the Country Club
of Jackson, and it looked
as though the 21-year-old
Im would snatch his first
victory when he made a