Nico Echavarria shot a final-round 67 to claim a one-shot victory at the ZOZO Championship in Japan.
The Colombian, who entered Sunday’s finale at Narashino Country Club with a two-shot lead, fell off the lead early as Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman went on scoring runs. But the two chasers came up empty down the stretch, while Echavarria closed with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to reach the summit on 19 under.
“It’s surreal,” said Echavarria. “This moment is very special. It’s been a good year for me, I just haven’t had that top result. I’ve been very consistent, I’ve learned a lot this year.
“To finish the year this way is, it’s incredible, especially doing it here in Japan in such an amazing country.”
Thomas, meanwhile, appeared headed for his first PGA Tour win in over two years when he made birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 6 to move into the lead. But the 15-time tour winner went ice cold the rest of the way, finishing with 11 straight pars until a final-hole birdie to join Greyserman in the second spot.
“Yeah, it’s a mixture of obviously bummed and disappointed, but I played so well,” said Thomas, who hasn’t won since the 2022 PGA Championship (May 2022).
“I played plenty well enough to win the tournament. Hit so many good putts today that just didn’t go in, that’s the difference. I needed some of those ones that burned the edge to fall.
“But no, I mean, I gave myself a chance. I would have really loved that putt on 17 to fall just to be tied for the lead. I felt like being one back of two people coming into 18 is a tough task
to accomplish. I did a lot of the things really well. I made one bogey in 72 holes and had a great chance, just wasn’t my week.”
Greyserman, a tour rookie, finished with a bogey-free 65 to post his third career runner-up finish in just 26 starts.
“Eighteen for myself, I was out of position off the tee, laid up fine,” said Greyserman. “Hit a poor wedge shot, but still had a look. Hit a good putt and it just needed another inch or two. I would have liked to have a better look for birdie on that hole especially.
“You know, didn’t quite execute down the stretch when I needed to. I mean, Nico stepped up there and he hit a great second shot. He earned it.”
to post was the first of the four chasers to pose something of a threat. The 45-year-old from Duke began the day with six straight pars but closed his front nine with an eagle and birdie to get within a shot of the lead. Streelman’s chase, though, was over before it started after a double bogey on 10, followed by seven straight pars. A birdie on the last moved Streelman into a tie for third on 19 under, alongside Lucas Glover, who produced a sizzling round of 62 to soar up the leaderboard on Sunday.
Rickie Fowler posted a low-round 64 to move into solo fourth on 17 under. Incredibly, it was Fowler’s first top-10 finish since winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2023.
“It was a good solid day,” said Fowler. “I was obviously trying to get more. Had some dinner with our friends and some of our friends in Narita last night and we set the goal at 9, so I fell a little bit short. Still a good solid day.
“Yeah, excited about the way I’ve been able to play the few events that I’ve played this fall. Not necessarily having my best, but being a lot of positives. Nice to have a good finish,
especially here in Japan in front of some fun fans.”
Kurt Kitayama (65) rounded out the top 5 finishers in Japan.
2024 ZOZO Championship
Top-10 Leaderboard: Final Round
Pos-Player-Score (Rd 4)
1. Nico Echavarria -20 (-3)
2. Justin Thomas -19 (-4)
2. Max Greyserman -19 (-5)
4. Rickie Fowler -17 (-6)
5. Kurt Kitayama -15 (-5)
6. Si Woo Kim -13 (-6)
6. JJ Spaun -13 (-6)
6. Yuta Sugiura -13 (-6)
6. C.T. Pan -13 (-4)
6. Eric Cole -13 (-4)
PGA Tour media press release and post-round notes used to compile recap.
