China’s Carl Yuan stays hot to finish in tie for second at Panama Championship, Carson Young claims first Korn Ferry Tour title
- Yuan’s final round 2-under 68 leaves him one stroke back from winner
- Young’s first win comes in 10th start on tour, calls it ‘a really special moment’
China’s Carl Yuan kept up his hot start on the new Korn Ferry Tour season by finishing tied second at The Panama Championship, thanks to a glorious finish with three birdies over his closing four holes.
The 24-year-old Olympian ended the tournament one back of winner Carson Young, who made the fewest mistakes on a tough scoring final day at Panama Golf Club to triumph after a 2-under 68 left him 8-under overall.
Yuan, who finished equal third in the season-opening event in the Bahamas, made one birdie and a double bogey on his front nine on Monday (HKT), before finishing strongly with birdies at 15, 16 and 17 for a final round 68.
His commendable week pushed him to fifth on the Tour’s points list, with the top 25 at the end of the regular season earning PGA Tour cards.
Countryman, Marty Zecheng Dou, also signed for a 68 to finish joint fifth, a week after losing in a playoff in the second event of the season also in the Bahamas. A two-time winner on the Tour, the 25-year-old Dou finished his week on 5-under, and is fourth in the points list.
Another Chinese golfer, Xinjun Zhang settled for a share of 25th place after ending his week with a 67.
At a course which finished four Korn Ferry Tour seasons with the highest scoring average relative to par, Young capitalised on just enough opportunities to win his maiden title in his 10th career start on Tour, one stroke ahead of Yuan, Brandon Matthews, and Jimmy Stanger.
“What I’ve dreamed of ever since I turned pro is to win on the Korn Ferry Tour,” Young said. “This is a really special moment for me. Had some good practice rounds. I was feeling good with my game. I felt like this course set up well for me. You had to be a pretty good ball-striker.
“I just played really solid golf. Hit a bunch of fairways, bunch of greens, and made a few putts here and there that ended up turning out to be good enough.
“I didn’t know how low or high the scores were going to be this week. I didn’t look at past scores or anything. I was just playing my game,” Young continued. “After I saw I was two back (following the third round) after feeling like I still even left a few out there, I knew this could be my week.
“I’m honestly still kind of in shock. I’m probably going to cry later just because this is a huge deal for me. I’ve worked, you know, four, five years to try to get here.”
