JACKSON, Miss. – Notes and observations from the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson. LEADING LIGHT Cameron Champ was an amateur this time last year. Now he’s a PGA TOUR winner. Champ, 23, claimed the Sanderson Farms Championship in just his second start as a TOUR member. He birdied five of his final six holes for a four-shot victory over Corey Conners. Champ shot a final-round 68 to finish at 21-under 267, the lowest score in the five editions of the Sanderson Farms at the Country Club of Jackson. And to think he almost didn’t turn pro last fall. He planned to finish his senior season at Texas A&M if he didn’t advance through the second stage of last year’s Web.com Tour Q-School. A third-round 75 left him outside the cut line with one round remaining. He closed in 68, including a birdie at the last, to advance to the final stage with three shots to spare. “It’s pretty unreal,â€� he said. “I can think back to second stage when I kind of almost choked with three holes to go. I made a great putt on 17 to move on to finals.â€� Advancing to Q-School’s final stage guaranteed him Web.com Tour status for 2018. He finished sixth on the money list, including a win at the Utah Championship, to earn his TOUR card. Now he has a guaranteed home on the PGA TOUR. The Sanderson victory comes with an exemption that will last nearly three years, through the end of the 2020-21 season. He also earns spots in THE PLAYERS Championship, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, PGA Championship and the TOUR’s invitational events. Champ’s booming tee shots should play well on the wide, sloping fairways of Kapalua’s Plantation Course. Champ can set his schedule instead of thinking about the reshuffle and keeping his card. He has the early, early lead in the Rookie of the Year race and moves to sixth in the FedExCup standings. He dominated the Country Club of Jackson’s back nine, which features two par-5s (Nos. 11 and 13) and the drivable, par-4 15th hole. He was 16 under on the course’s inward half and didn’t make a bogey. Champ’s trademark driving distance was key to his victory. He finished first in driving distance, averaging 308 yards on all holes and 334 yards on the measured holes. He was second in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, as well. Champ also finished second in Strokes Gained: Putting (+2.27 per round) and ninth in greens hit (55 of 72), despite hitting just 11 in the final round. OBSERVATIONS CANADIAN CHALLENGE: Conners put pressure on Champ for the majority of Sunday’s round. The Canadian caught Champ with a 13-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole and remained tied with him by matching his birdie at the par-3 13th. Conners almost tied Champ again on the 15th hole, but his 7-foot eagle putt on the drivable par-4 burned the edge. Champ birdied the next hole to take a two-shot lead. He carried that advantage to the 18th tee, eventually winning by four after Conners’ three-putt on the final hole. That bogey on the 18th hole was inconsequential. Conners finished two shots ahead of third place for his best finish in 40 PGA TOUR starts. He has conditional status this season after finishing 130th in the FedExCup. He’s 18th in this season’s standings. He can take confidence from his strong play under Sunday pressure, as well. This was the third time he started the final round of a PGA TOUR event in first or second place. He shot a final-round 77 at the Valspar Championship after holding a one-shot lead. He was in second at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship before a final-round 76. CASTRO’S CHARGE: Roberto Castro started Sunday in 19th place. He teed off more than an hour before the final group. He briefly pulled within two shots of the lead after making birdie on eight of his first 11 holes, though. He couldn’t keep up the pace. He bogeyed the 12th hole, then parred the last six. He finished T5 after a final-round 65. It was his best finish since the 2016 BMW Championship, when he finished third to qualify for the TOUR Championship. Castro, who graduated from the Web.com Tour in 2018, hopes another strong start to the season can result in his third trip to the TOUR Championship in his hometown of Atlanta. He’s 61st in this season’s standings. EAGLE HAS LANDED: Dylan Meyer is a first-year professional out of the University of Illinois. D.J. Trahan is a PGA TOUR veteran with two victories. They both parlayed sponsor exemptions into top-10 finishes at the Sanderson Farms Championship. They finished T7 at 13-under 275 to earn starts in next week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Meyer’s final-round 69 included an eagle on the par-5 11th hole. Meyer will have Web.com Tour status in 2019 after qualifying for the Web.com Tour Finals via his play on the PGA TOUR. He made the cut in five of seven starts as a pro, including a T17 at the Quicken Loans National and T20 at the U.S. Open. Trahan, who played in the final group alongside Champ and Conners, fired a final-round 71. It’s his first top-10 since the 2015 Sanderson Farms. QUOTABLE It doesn’t matter if you play good or bad. You go back to a little kid and they really don’t care.It really does help a lot just to get a little confidence going into the holidays and a few points. SUPERLATIVES Low round: Carlos Ortiz shot a final-round 64 to jump 16 spots on the leaderboard and finish in a tie for third. It was the best finish in 64 PGA TOUR starts for the 2014 Web.com Tour Player of the Year. Longest drive: Wyndham Clark hit a 369-yard drive on the sixth hole. He made par on the hole in his final-round 73. Clark, a Web.com Tour grad, finished T54. Longest putt: Brady Schnell made a 50-foot putt in his final-round 69. He finished T45. Hardest hole: The 209-yard, par-3 seventh hole played to a 3.3 scoring average, yielding just five birdies. Champ made one of the 19 bogeys there in the final round. Easiest hole: The 534-yard, par-5 third hole played to a 4.33 scoring average. There were six birdies and 38 eagles on the hole, compared to just two bogeys. CALL OF THE DAY For play-by-play coverage of the PGA TOUR, listen here. SHOT OF THE DAY
Cameron Champ claims first TOUR title at Sanderson Farms Championship
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Miscellaneous | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Xander Schauffele / Collin Morikawa – All Hit Fairway With Opening Tee Shot | +100 |
3rd Round – Scottie Scheffler / Brooks Koepka – Lowest/2nd Lowest Score (Any Order) (Includes Ties) | +5000 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – C. Ciganda / A. Valenzuela | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carlota Ciganda | -120 |
Albane Valenzuela | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Lee / M. Alex | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alison Lee | -115 |
Marina Alex | +130 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren v S. Lowry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -120 |
Shane Lowry | +100 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – B. DeChambeau v B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | -130 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Smith v M. Homa | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Cameron Smith | -110 |
Max Homa | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau v T. Kim | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tony Finau | -145 |
Tom Kim | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. McIIroy v X. Schauffele | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -115 |
Rory McIlroy | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – K. Bradley v J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -125 |
Keegan Bradley | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – V. Hovland v J. Thomas | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | -115 |
Justin Thomas | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English v T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -125 |
Thomas Detry | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – J. Day v M.W. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Jason Day | -115 |
Min Woo Lee | -115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa v S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -145 |
Sahith Theegala | +120 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay v C. Young | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -130 |
Cameron Young | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge v W. Zalatoris | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Will Zalatoris | -130 |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – P. Cantlay vs J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Patrick Cantlay | -125 |
Jordan Spieth | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Eckroat vs T. Detry | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Austin Eckroat | -110 |
Thomas Detry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. English vs K. Bradley | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | -110 |
Keegan Bradley | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Finau vs B. Hun An | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Byeong Hun An | -115 |
Tony Finau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – L. Herbert vs T. Moore | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Moore | -155 |
Lucas Herbert | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hoge vs M. McNealy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – M. Hubbard vs A. Rai | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Aaron Rai | -115 |
Mark Hubbard | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Lowry vs K. Kitayama | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Kurt Kitayama | -110 |
Shane Lowry | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. MacIntyre vs M. Wallace | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | -115 |
Robert MacIntyre | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – H. Matsuyama vs S. Theegala | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Hideki Matsuyama | -115 |
Sahith Theegala | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – C. Morikawa vs B. DeChambeau | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Collin Morikawa | -115 |
Bryson DeChambeau | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – A. Noren vs D. Burmester | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | -115 |
Alex Noren | -105 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – X. Schauffele vs B. Koepka | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Xander Schauffele | -135 |
Brooks Koepka | +115 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – S. Scheffler vs R. McIIroy | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | -150 |
Rory McIlroy | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Up – S. Soderberg v B. Todd | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Sebastian Soderberg | -125 |
Brendon Todd | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – D. Ghim v L. Hodges | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | -110 |
Lee Hodges | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Tosti v A. Bjork | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alejandro Tosti | -125 |
Alexander Bjork | +105 |
3rd Round Match-Up – L. Glover v A. Hadwin | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Adam Hadwin | -110 |
Lucas Glover | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Up – A. Putnam v T. Olesen | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Andrew Putnam | -110 |
Thorbjorn Olesen | -110 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – T. Hatton v B. Harman | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Tyrrell Hatton | -145 |
Brian Harman | +125 |
3rd Round Match-Ups – R. Fox v R. Holgaard | |
Type: 3rd Round Match-Ups – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Fox | -115 |
Rasmus Hojgaard | -105 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group A – M. Homa / J. Day / P. Cantlay / M.W. Lee / C. Smith / J. Spieth | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Max Homa | +350 |
Cameron Smith | +400 |
Patrick Cantlay | +400 |
Jason Day | +475 |
Jordan Spieth | +475 |
Min Woo Lee | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group B – S. Scheffler / B. Koepka / R. McIIroy / B. DeChambeau / X. Schauffele / C. Morikawa | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +260 |
Rory McIlroy | +375 |
Brooks Koepka | +475 |
Xander Schauffele | +475 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +500 |
Collin Morikawa | +550 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group C – V. Hovland / H. Matsuyama / B. Hun An / J. Thomas / S. Theegala / T. Finau | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Viktor Hovland | +330 |
Byeong Hun An | +400 |
Hideki Matsuyama | +450 |
Justin Thomas | +450 |
Sahith Theegala | +450 |
Tony Finau | +475 |
3rd Round – Six Shooter – Group D – H. English / R. MacIntyre / T. Detry / M. Wallace / A. Eckroat / M. Hubbard | |
Type: 3rd Round – Six Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Harris English | +350 |
Thomas Detry | +400 |
Austin Eckroat | +425 |
Robert MacIntyre | +425 |
Matt Wallace | +450 |
Mark Hubbard | +475 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Kang / S. Kemp | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sarah Kemp | -110 |
Minji Kang | +120 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Khang / A. Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Megan Khang | -105 |
Andrea Lee | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – M. Jutanugarn / A. Buhai | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ashleigh Buhai | -105 |
Moriya Jutanugarn | +115 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – Y. Nishimura / A. Furue | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ayaka Furue | -135 |
Yuna Nishimura | +150 |
Tie | +750 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | -250 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -200 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | -150 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +125 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +150 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +650 |
Win PGA Championship & US Open | +1200 |
Win PGA Championship & The Open | +1400 |
Click here for more… | |
3rd Round 2 Balls – P. Anannarukarn / N. Koerstz Madsen | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nanna Koerstz Madsen | +105 |
Pajaree Anannarukarn | +105 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – G. Ruffels / M. Saigo | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Gabriela Ruffels | -145 |
Mao Saigo | +160 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – N. Korda / A. Jutanugarn | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nelly Korda | -230 |
Ariya Jutanugarn | +250 |
Tie | +750 |
3rd Round 2 Balls – A. Thitikul / S. Mi Lee | |
Type: 3rd Round 2 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Atthaya Thitikul | -180 |
So Mi Lee | +200 |
Tie | +750 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Rory McIlroy | +1100 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +175 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |