YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Michael Brennan won the Baycurrent Classic on Sunday for his second victory of the season and third on the PGA Tour, parring the closing six holes for a 3-under 68 and a one-stroke margin over Jacob Bridgeman and Keith Mitchell.
“Unbelievable. It was an unbelievable week,” Brennan said. “Japan was spectacular. The fans were amazing this week. It was so awesome to have my brother fly out here and be here for the weekend.”
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Tied for the third-round lead with Bridgeman and Zach Bauchou in the FedEx Cup Fall occasion, Brennan rebounded from a bogey on the tenth with birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 before the successful par run at hilly Yokohama Country Club.
“I was frustrated after 10, probably could have handled it a little bit better,” Brennan said. “Definitely should have hit a better chip, but making a really nice roll on 11 and 12 was huge.”
His best par save came on the par-3 sixteenth when he hit a long shot from a greenside bunker to a foot. He completed at 16-under 268.
Brennan has won the three titles in 33 begins. The 24-year-old former Wake Forest participant took the Wyndham Championship in August and completed the season forty sixth in the FedExCup standings. He won the Bank of Utah Championship last yr.
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“I just think you can get more comfortable in those situations,” Brennan said. “I was very nervous today, especially coming down the stretch. Jacob and I had a great battle. He played really great coming down and that was really fun. We played a lot of golf in college together.”
Bridgeman missed a likelihood to pull even on the par-4 seventeenth when his 5-foot birdie putt slid by to the proper. On the par-4 18th, he had a 55-foot birdie putt over a massive ridge that he left 4 toes huge. He shot a 69.
“I was in defensive mode a lot,” Bridgeman said. “I feel like I just kind of grinded my way to the end there. Was able to make some putts at important times that I needed. That one on 17’s going to sting a little bit.”
Mitchell was two strokes forward after enjoying a five-hole stretch in 5 under with three birdies and an eagle. He then performed the closing 10 in 2 over for a 68.
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“The back nine plays a lot harder than the front,” Mitchell said. “Gave myself some good looks on the final three holes and just, unfortunately, didn’t convert them.”
Defending champion Xander Schauffele went to the 18th a stroke back, then drove left in into trees and closed with a double bogey. He settled for a 67 to tie for fourth at 13 under.
“I hit a lot of really good shots,” Schauffele said. “I definitely played good enough golf to win this tournament.”
Brian Harman (67) also was 13 under with Stephan Jaeger (70), Ryan Gerard (68) and Jordan Smith (70).
Jordan Spieth, making his first begin of the FedEx Cup Fall, tied for thirteenth at 11 under after a 67. Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 winner, tied for twenty first at 9 under after a 67.
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