Sony Open - Kizzire Outlast Hahn in Six-Hole Playoff Marathon

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 7 years ago

SteemSports Presenter:@hogan22

SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

It took six playoff holes to complete the second tournament of the PGA Tour season, The Sony Open. Chris Kirk opened the tournament at Wailaie Country Club in Honalulu, HI with a seven under-par 63 to set the pace after the first round. Justin Thomas shot a three-under par, 67 to start his title defense. Brian Harman takes lead with 63. John Peterson and Patton Kizzire both carded 64s which put them three and four shots behind, respectively, heading into the weekend.

Tom Hoge was the biggest mover on moving day, carding a six under par 64 to “jump ahead of numerous players, including Harmon who finished the third round after a 68, just ahead of Patton Kizzire.

James Hahn started the final round in fourteenth place, seven strokes back of the lead. Hahn took advantage of a early, relatively stress-free round, getting off to a hot start with birdies on the front nine, starting his run on the eighth hole at two-under par for the day, making eight birdies in nine holes finishing with an eight-under 62 to set the mark for the field at -17. Kizzire followed up his back-to-back 64s with a 68 in the final round to finish even up with Hahn.

The co-leaders headed back to the 18th hole for the first hole in the sudden-death playoff. This marked the first playoff appearance for Kizzire. Hahn entered his third playoff, winning in his previous two appearances.

Kizzire and Hahn both traded pars on the first with Hahn missing a twelve-foot birdie try for the win.

Playing the same par 5 as they did on the first playoff hole, they both hit six-irons into the par 5, both making birdies to extend to a third playoff hole.

Kizzire and Hahn, once again, had twenty foot attempts for birdie and missed them both.

The fourth playoff hole, once again at the home hole, the Hahn put his second shot into the green side bunker, while Kizzire had a 30-foot eagle putt. Hahn was able to get up-and-down from the bunker, sinking a six foot to do so, while Kizzire tapped in his two-foot birdie.

On the fifth playoff hole both had birdie putts to win the tournament but neither converted. With Kizzire in for his par, Hahn missed a six-foot downhill birdie putt to miss, yet, another opportunity to win.

Kizzire played first on the 183-yard par three and was finally able to break through, knocking his approach to pin-high and 25 feet, resting just on the fringe. Hahn, perhaps feeling the pressure, hit his tee shot long and right into a collection area. Hahn chose to play his putter up the fringe and to the hole, only to leave his shot 6 feet short. Kizzire played a well-executed 24 foot lag. With one last chance to extend the playoff, Hahn lined up and missed his six foot left-to-right breaking attempt, firm and right, squandering his opportunity for a victory. Kizzire tapped in his par and second victory of the 2017-2018 season.

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