Peter Malnati keeps first timers run going

28-year-old Peter Malnati claimed the Sanderson Farms Championship and became the fifth first time winner from five events on the 2015/16 PGA Tour.

Peter Malnati went into the final round at the Country Club of Jackson one stroke behind David Toms and rookie Patton Kizzire. The leaderboard was in constant flux over the final 18-holes, with as many as 15 players in with a chance of victory. But Malnati stamped his authority on the tournament with five birdies in his last 12 holes.

The young American closed with a five-under-par 67 to post a clubhouse total of 270. He then faced a wait to see if anyone could match that number. On a marathon Monday finish, in which some players had to complete 30 holes, nobody was able to catch Malnati and the title was his.

4 Talking points from the Sanderson Farms Championship

1 – Peter Malnati is the fifth first time winner in five events on the PGA Tour so far this season and, at just 28, he also continues the theme of young champions. Malnati first played on the PGA Tour in 2014 but was unable to retain his playing privileges. He made it back onto the circuit via last year’s Web.com Tour and now he’s a PGA Tour winner.

“It’s kind of surreal,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

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2 – For all the talk about youth on the PGA Tour so far in 2015/16, it was one of the oldest players in the field with the lead through 54-holes. 48-year-old David Toms rallied on the back nine of the final round with four birdies on the run for home, but it wasn’t quite enough and he came up just one stroke shy of forcing a playoff for what would have been a 14th PGA Tour title.

3 – Patton Kizzire has continued his excellent start to the new season. He topped the Web.com Tour money list in 2015 and has begun his campaign on the main circuit in some style. He was tied second in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and now tied fourth in this event. He’s one to watch for in the future.

4 – Australia’s Aaron Baddeley finished in a tie for fourth, just two shots off Malnati’s final score. Baddeley hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2011 and has struggled to find his best form in the past few seasons. This encouraging result might act as a springboard for the talented Aussie.

Sanderson Farms Championship Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi Nov 5-9 Purse: €4,100,000, par 72

1    Peter Malnati (USA)    69    66    68    67    270    $738,000 T2    William McGirt (USA)    71    66    66    68    271    $360,800 T2    David Toms (USA)    67    69    66    69    271    $360,800 T4    Aaron Baddeley (Aus)    64    73    67    68    272    $154,570 T4    Roberto Castro (USA)    62    67    75    68    272    $154,570 T4    Patton Kizzire (USA)    67    69    66    70    272    $154,570 T4    Bryce Molder (USA)    64    69    70    69    272    $154,570 T4    Jhonattan Vegas (Ven)    66    67    70    69    272    $154,570 9    Brice Garnett (USA)    68    68    68    69    273    $118,900 T10    Andrew Loupe (USA)    66    71    70    67    274    $106,600 T10    D.J. Trahan (USA)    67    67    69    71    274    $106,600

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage