Kevin Yu shot a final-round 67 at the Country Club of Jackson and then edged Beau Hossler on the first playoff hole to claim victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
The Taiwan native finished his final day in Mississippi with just one bogey against six birdies, including a final-hole gain to reach 23 under and force a playoff with Hossler.
Playing the 18th in overtime, the 26-year-old Yu made quick work of the big Texan, ending the sudden-death playoff on the first extra hole with a birdie.
“I’m excited inside my mind but I’m trying to be as calm as possible from outside,” said Yu, who attended Arizona State. “Just really I feel like I took a little break from last month, really helped me. I feel like I was playing great and just mentally I was just kind of tired, frustrated, and just feel like momentum couldn’t going anywhere in the last maybe six months.
“Then today out there I was trying to do my best on everything and trying to — I set a goal today if I can shoot 5-, 6-under I have a chance, and today I focused on that. Try to do the best I can out there and try to do every shot the best I could have done out there. I did a pretty good job out there today.”
Hossler, who is still searching for his maiden PGA Tour win, was proud of his performance on Sunday, while giving kudos to Yu, particularly for his play on 18.
“The main positive is just getting under the gun and performing,” said Hossler, a former Texas Longhorn. “You know, it’s tough to get in a position to win on the PGA Tour. I was proud to get there, and then proud of my performance.
“Even though I didn’t have my best stuff on the back nine I grinded really hard. Hit some really quality shots under the gun, and that’s all you can do.
“Obviously Kevin played a beautiful hole in the playoff. Hit it right down the middle. Probably 7-iron to five feet and made it right in the middle.
“Definitely stings, but you got to tip your hat. I don’t know what he shot today, but had to be 6-, 7-under and then to birdie the playoff hole, pretty flawless day. Good for him.”
Meanwhile, overnight leader Keith Mitchell had a 34-foot birdie putt on 18 to win the tournament outright but blasted it four feet past the hole. Mitchell then missed the four-foot comeback for par to post bogey and fall out of the playoff on 22 under.
“Yeah, the first putt actually looked good off the face. Right when it missed I kind of turned my head and didn’t watch the read on the way by,” said Mitchell, whose only tour win came in 2019 at the Honda.
“So when I got or there I assumed it was breaking. Guess it broke left. It was going to break right back up the hill.
“I played it left edge, left center, and it and just didn’t go in. I didn’t have my best on the back nine. I think 18 was the only fairway I hit. I didn’t really deserve to — don’t really deserve anything out here. Just lucky to be on tour.
“I didn’t have my best stuff at the end. I hate that I finished with three putt. Felt like I grinded all the way to the end and gave the first putt a really good chance.”
Lucas Glover joined Mitchell in the third spot after a final-round 66.
Bud Cauley (67) and Alex Smalley (67) were one further back on 21 under, one clear of Daniel Berger (67), who finished solo seventh.
Mackenzie Hughes (64), Hayden Springer (66) and Michael Thorbjornsen (68) rounded out the top 10 finishers on 19 under.
2024 Sanderson Farms Championship
Sanderson Farms Top 10: Final
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 4)
1. Kevin Yu -23 (-5)*
2. Beau Hossler -23 (-4)
3. Lucas Glover -22 (-6)
3. Keith Mitchell -22 (-2)
5. Bud Cauley -21 (-5)
5. Alex Smalley -21 (-5)
7. Daniel Berger -20 (-3)
8. Mackenzie Hughes -19 (-8)
8. Hayden Springer -19 (-6)
8. Michael Thorbjornsen -19 (-4)
* Won in playoff
