Oct29 Chopra gets debut win in Florida
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Daniel Chopra tapped in for par, then pumped his right fist into the air.
Finally, victory was his.
Chopra re-claimed the lead with a birdie at the par-5 16th hole Monday morning and held on to win the oft-delayed Ginn sur Mer Classic, edging Fredrik Jacobsen and Shigeki Mauryama by one shot for his first PGA Tour triumph.
Chopra finished at 19 under, becoming the 12th first-time winner on TOUR this season.
The win came in Chopra’s 133rd career start, and the $810,000 winner’s check pushed his career earnings to just shy of $5 million. He saw a four-shot lead over his nearest pursuers evaporate as darkness fell on Tesoro Club Sunday night, then returned in the morning and coolly finished off the long-awaited win.
Maruyama left with one pretty good consolation prize – a card for next season.
His tie for second earned him $396,000, vaulting him from 137th to 103rd on the money list with just one tournament remaining, meaning he’s a cinch to finish among the top 125 and have full playing privileges next season.
“This year was really hard, the most difficult year in eight years for myself,” said Maruyama, who had been in the top 80 on the money list in each of his first seven years on TOUR. “I’m really happy.”
He won’t have to worry about playing next week’s Children’s Miracle Network Classic at the Disney courses near Orlando, either.
“Bye, bye, Disney,” Maruyama said in perfect English.
Jacobsen’s finish was his best in 96 starts on Tour.
