(Cromwell) Xander Schauffele capitalized on a double bogey from rookie golfer Sahith Theegala to win the Travelers Championship on Sunday.
Posted at 10:29 p.m.
Schauele scored a birdie at 18e hole to confirm their victory after Theegala needed two shots to get out of a bunker in the previous group.
Leading by one stroke heading into the final round, Schauffele returned 68 (-2) on the course at TPC River Highlands and edged Theegala and JT Poston by two strokes with a cumulative score of under -19.
Theegala played 67 and Poston shot 64.
Schauffele, an Olympic champion in Tokyo, earned his sixth career PGA Tour title and second this season after teaming with Patrick Cantlay to win the Zurich Classic in April.
Theegala aimed for the top of the leaderboard all day and he shared the lead at 15e hole, after landing a short birdie. He beat Schauffele following a birdie at 17e pennant, waving his fist in satisfaction.
At 18e hole, Theegala, however, sent his tee shot to the left of the fairway and into a bunker. He needed two shots to get out.
His putt from 12 feet for a bogey just missed the holeshot and Theegala collapsed to his knees. He was trying to become just the second rookie to win a tournament this season, after Chad Ramey.
Amateur player Michael Thorbjornsen took fourth position after completing the course in 66 shots. Chesson Hadley (64) rounded out the top-5, at 14 under.
Cantlay started the day just one stroke behind Schauffele, but bogeyed five times on the front nine to see his chances of victory shattered. The FedEx Cup champion played 76 and he slipped to a tie in 13e square.
Canadians Mackenzie Hughes (68) and Adam Svensson (71) finished the tournament tied at 25e rank. Their compatriots Michael Gligic (40e) and Ben Silverman (46e) also competed in the weekend rounds.