Avondale, LA-Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin shot an 11-under 61 on Better-Ball Play on Saturday, earning a three-stroke lead in the final round of the Zurich Classic, the only team event on the PGA Tour.
Novak and Griffin chased their first PGA Tour title and scored a total of 27 under 189 in Sunday’s alternative shot finale at Louisiana’s TPC.
“That’s what we both practice and play on the PGA Tour,” Griffin said of the victory. “We want to compete with the best players and ultimately try to test ourselves and get it done.”
Novak stripped out his playoff loss to Justin Thomas at RBC Heritage last week.
“Three shots get pretty quicker,” Novak Third said. “It’s nice to have that, but we still need to play well.”
Masters champion Rory McIlroy and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry and defending champions returned to five-stroke after the age of 61.
“The last thing in my mind during the delay was Pat, and when I got back there, I focused on it and made sure I did what I needed to do,” McIlroy said. “That’s a bonus to get in.”
Jake Knapp and Franky Capan III had 60 to join the Japanese duo and the Japanese duo of Kanaya at 24 under. Hisan and Kanaya shot 61.
Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Vero are the PGA Tour rookies who led each of the first two days, pitching 66 people in fourth place at 23 under. They set the tournament’s Better Ball Record at 58 on Thursday.
The same Danish twins, Nikolai and Rasmus Holgaard, were also under the age of 23. They shot 64.