Will Gordon parred the first playoff hole while Philip Knowles and Will Daffue each double-bogeyed it, allowing Gordon to escape with the title at the Albertson’s Boise Open, the first leg of the three-tournament Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Gordon also locked up his PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season.
Gordon and Erik Barnes each fired final-round 63s on Sunday, the best scores of the day. Gordon punctuated his 63 with birdies on Nos. 12-16. He parred the last two to make it into the playoff.
Knowles had the round of the week, a 10-under 61 on Thursday, doing so with two eagles, eight birdies and two bogeys. He followed that up with a 64 on Friday and after his 68 on Saturday, he led by two and was threatening to go wire-to-wire but couldn’t quite get it going on Sunday, closing with a final-round 1-under 70. On 18, he had two putts to win but needed three to find the hole.
There have still been no wire-to-wire winners on the Korn Ferry Tour this season. Despite coming up short in the playoff, Knowles secured his PGA Tour card for next season. He came into the event needing a solo fifth or better and got a tie for second to seal the deal.
Up next
The Boise Open is the first of three Korn Ferry Tour Finals events in 2022. Next week, it’s the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship at the Ohio State University Scarlet Course in Columbus. The season finale is the Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Sept. 1-4, at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Indiana.
At the conclusion of the KFT Championship, 25 players will have earned their 2022-23 PGA Tour cards.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek