The winner of the 2016-17 OHL Classic at Mayakoba has been crowned and there are a number of takeaways.
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After 72-holes at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba, Pat Perez has been crowned champion, besting second placed Gary Woodland by three strokes. This year’s tournament was quite the low scoring affair as Perez walked away with win with a 21-under tournament score.
Perez made up a lot of ground in his middle two rounds after his first round score left him with quite the deficit to make up.
His first round three-under 68 left him behind by five strokes to leader Chris Kirk who posted an eight-under 63. Perez chipped away at the lead in the second round with a five-under 66. However, Perez’s best round of the tournament came in the third round, as he posted a nine-under 62. His round included eight birdies and an eagle to just one bogey.
Headed into the final round, Perez had come all the way back and was then behind Gary Woodland by just one stroke. In the end, he would outlast Woodland who struggled and posted just a one-under 70. His own four-under 67 was good enough to capture the win.
Perez is the new champion but here’s some takeaways involving the some of the other players in the field this week.
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Russell Knox Continuing Early Season Success
Its been quite the start for Russell Knox so far this season. This week marks his third tournament of the year and he’s had great finishes at all three but this week’s was most definitely his best.
Knox made his debut at the CIMB Classic a few weeks ago and he got him off to a great start. Knox wasn’t able to keep up with repeat winner Justin Thomas but he still finished in the top 10. His 13-under tournament score was good enough to place him in a tie for 10th place.
He was again in the field one week later at the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament where he could again be found in the top-10. Knox navigated up to ninth place in the star studded field that included Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Dustin Johnson.
Finally, in his third tournament of the year, he posted his best finish of the young season. This week at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba Knox finished alone in sole possession of third place with an 18-under tournament score.
These good finishes might not mean much because he wasn’t able to actually win one but the FedEx Cup points he has earned could go a long way come the playoffs at the end of the season. Currently, Knox is in eighth place in the FedEx Cup standings.
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Cody Gribble Emerging As Star
Cody Gribble has been busy so far this season as he’s played in four events in the young season and he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. Gribble is now emerging as a star on the PGA Tour as he is seeing some early success. He now might represent a big challenge for a former team mate. Gribble was a team mate of Jordan Spieth at the University of Texas when they captured the NCAA Championship in 2012 and now they will be competing against each other.
Gribble snagged his first PGA Tour win of his young career two weeks ago at the Sanderson Farms Championship. Gribble blew out the field by four strokes after he posted a 20-under tournament score. However, that wasn’t the only tournament in which he saw success.
The previous week Gribble could be found in eighth place at the PGA Tour season opener, The Safeway Open. This week at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba this week, he again put together a good tournament. He finished in a tie for 15th with his 12-under tournament score.
If he can continue the success that he has had so far this year he may just be one of the game’s next stars.
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Chez Reavie Gets Best Finish Of The Season
Like Cody Gribble, Chez Reavie has been very busy so far this year as he has played in four events already. Although he has seen decent finishes so far, this week at the OHL Classic at Mayakoba has been his best.
Reavie started his season at the Safeway Open where he added a respectable finish to his resume. He finished in a tie for 22nd at 10-under. The next week at the CIMB Classic, he struggled as his two-under tournament score placed him in a tie for 60th. His next tournament at the Shriner Hospital for Children Open, he was back to a somewhat successful finish. Reavie used a course low for the day with 10-under 61 in the second round to lead him into a tie for 24th.
Finally, this is the week Reavie broke the top ten. He didn’t start that well as he posted just a one-under 70 in the first round. After that, he put together three decent rounds. He posted matching four-under 67s in the second and final rounds. However, his best round came in the third round when shot an eight-under 63. In the end, Reavie’s efforts got him a fourth place finish at 17-under for the tournament, his best of the season.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
OHL Classic at Mayakoba Final Round Leaderboard
1. Pat Perez – (-21)
2. Gary Woodland (-19)
3. Russell Knox – (-18)
T4. Kevin Streelman – (-17)
T4. Chez Reavie – (-17)
T4. Scott Piercy – (-17)
T7. Charles Howell III – (-16)
T7. Chris Kirk – (-16)
T7. Luke List – (-16)
T10. Adam Hadwin – (-14)
T10. Emiliano Grillo – (-14)
T10. Jhonattan Vegas – (-14)
The PGA Tour will be back in action on Thursday of this week for the RSM Classic.
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