Malnati clinches maiden title

Peter Malnati became the fifth successive maiden winner on the PGA Tour this season with victory in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Bad weather meant the players had to return to the Country Club of Jackson on Monday morning to complete their third rounds, with veteran David Toms and Patton Kizzire rising to the top of the leaderboard with 54 holes played.

The duo were unable to carry their good form into the final round, as William McGirt emerged from the pack to take over as the clubhouse leader, reaching 18-under with birdies at 14 and 15 before dropping back a shot with a mistake at the 16th.

Malnati was able to capitalise on McGrit’s error, with the American recovering from a stuttering start to his round by picking up four shots in six holes around the turn before carding a vital birdie at the 15th to complete a five-under-par round of 67.

Malnati’s overall score of 18-under was enough to secure him his first PGA Tour win, continuing a trend of maiden winners with the previous four events having also been won by debutants to the winner’s enclosure.

“Two years ago when I was on this tour, it was so hard for me to be in the moment,” Malnati told the Golf Channel. “I knew the work I’ve put in would prepare me for this moment when it came. This is pretty cool right now.”

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