Sullivan cruises to win at PGA Pro Championship
Sunriver, OR - Chip Sullivan shot a two-under 70 on Sunday to cruise to a four-shot win at the PGA Professional National Championship.
Sullivan, the head pro at Ashley Plantation in Daleville, Virginia, put together a spectacular front nine at Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Course, going out in just 32 shots on a day when low scores were hard to come by.
He shot a 38 on the back nine, with back-to-back bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes only serving to trim his lead.
Sullivan ended at six-under 281 overall. He was one of only seven players who broke par in the final round.
Third-round leader Ryan Benzel shot a 75 Sunday and shared a distant second place with 2005 champion Mike Small (73) at two-under 285. Tim Thelan (74) and Butch Sheehan (71) finished another shot further back at 286.
They were part of a group of 20 players who earned their way into this year’s PGA Championship based on their finish.
The remaining 15 were Matthew Seitz, Don Yrene, John O’Leary, Kelly Mitchum, Micah Rudosky, Phil Schmitt, Erik Wolf, Greg Bisconti, Scott Hebert, Kevin Burton, Bill Amundsen, Robert Gaus, Brad Lardon, Matt Call and Robert McGrath.
Amundsen, Gaus, Lardon, Call and McGrath won their berths in a six-way playoff to determine the final five spots. Brett Melton, one of the six finishers at three-over 290, lost out.
Defending champion Ron Philo Jr., the brother of LPGA Tour player Laura Diaz, fell out of contention for one of the spots after shooting a 77 on Sunday. He slipped 19 places into a tie for 31st place at five-over 292.
The PGA Championship begins August 9 at Southern Hills.
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