No Seung-yeol Ties for 29th Place... Echavarria's 'First Victory'

'B-Grade Tournament' Puerto Rico Open FR

No Seung-yeol failed to make the ‘Top 10’.

On the 6th (Korean time), No Seung-yeol finished the final 3rd round of the Puerto Rico Open (total prize money $3.8 million) held at the Grand Reserve Golf Club in Puerto Rico (par 72, 7,506 yards) with a 1-under-par 71, dropping to a tie for 29th place (9-under-par 279). Until the previous day, he was only one stroke behind the group tied for 10th place, raising expectations for a high ranking, but he struggled as his tee shots faltered.

No Seung-yeol is teeing off at the 2nd hole of the final 4th round of the Puerto Rico Open. [Puerto Rico=AFP·Yonhap News]

No Seung-yeol recorded 1 eagle, 3 birdies, 2 bogeys, and 1 double bogey. He gained momentum in the front nine by shooting 4 under par with an eagle on the 2nd hole (par 5) and birdies on the 5th and 9th holes. However, a bogey on the 11th hole (par 3) halted his progress, and he collapsed with a double bogey on the 13th hole and a bogey on the 14th hole (both par 4). Although he added a birdie on the 15th hole (par 5), it was not enough to catch his competitors. His fairway hit rate was only 21.43%, and his greens in regulation stood at 55.56%.

The Puerto Rico Open is a ‘B-level tournament’ where lower-ranked players who did not qualify for the ‘premium event’ Arnold Palmer Invitational (total prize money $20 million) during the same period compete. Although the prize money is small, the winner receives a two-year tour card, allowing for a stable tour life.

World No. 406 Nico Echavarria (Colombia) shot a 4-under-par 68 to win by 2 strokes (21-under-par 267). He turned professional in 2017 and made his PGA Tour debut this year, winning for the first time in his 11th tournament. The winner’s prize money was $684,000 (approximately 890 million KRW). Akshay Bhatia (USA) surged with a 7-under-par round to finish 2nd (19-under-par 269). Carson Young (USA) tied for 3rd place (16-under-par 272). From Korea, Kang Sung-hoon finished the tournament in 69th place (3-over-par 291).