Xinjun Zhang wins Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch for first Web.com Tour title
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Written by Staff
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Xinjun Zhang pulled away from the field on Sunday at the Dormie Network Classic at Briggs Ranch to earn his first career Web.com Tour victory. The 31-year-old entered Sunday with a commanding lead and never lost control of the round, finishing five shots ahead of Chase Seiffert and Lanto Griffin who tied for second.
Zhang started his round with a bogey on No. 1 but calmed his nerves with pars on Nos. 2 and 3. He converted birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 to take a commanding lead on the field. He added a birdie on No. 8 but gave it back after a bogey on the par-4 ninth.
Zhang bounced back from his bogey with pars on Nos. 10, 11 and 12. A birdie on the par-5 13th got him to 26-under for the week. The former PGA TOUR member closed out his round with five consecutive pars to earn his first Web.com Tour victory. Zhang remained steady down the stretch, posting a final-round, 2-under 70 to finish the week at 26-under 262.
“Today the game plan was to be very steady and consistent out there,” Zhang said. “We knew the course would play much harder today with the greens being much firmer. We knew that if we could go out there and shoot a few under, we’d probably take this one.”
Zhang had his game in control throughout the week, leading the field in greens in regulation. He tied Mark Hubbard’s total of 26-under 262 at the LECOM Suncoast Classic to match the lowest four-day total on the Web.com Tour this year.
With the win, Zhang earned 500 Web.com Tour Points and is now No. 1 in The 25 standings. With the estimated total of 830 points needed to secure a PGA TOUR card, Zhang is poised for a return to the TOUR with 1,135 points through the first nine events.
“It takes a lot of pressure off for the rest of the season,” Zhang said. “I’ll probably play a little more aggressively, but it’ll be situational. I need to continue with our strategy and hopefully we’ll be able to put another victory away.”
Zhang previously played on the PGA TOUR during the 2017-18 season but failed to retain his card after finishing No. 167 in the FedExCup. Zhang mentioned that his positive attitude should help in his return to the TOUR.
“I need to keep working on the same things I’ve been working on, which is a positive attitude on the course,” Zhang said. “There were times on the PGA TOUR I let my emotions get the best of me. I need to continue to grow emotionally and hopefully it’ll be a new me playing out there.”
Lanto Griffin, last week’s winner on the Web.com Tour, made a back-nine charge to close the gap on Sunday afternoon. Griffin recorded birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 14 to pull within three strokes of the lead, but a late bogey on No. 15 proved to be too much to overcome.
On his 72nd hole, Griffin lipped out a par putt that would have given him a solo-second finish and enough points to surpass the 830 total that likely ensures players a PGA TOUR card. With the T2 result, Griffin now has 807 Web.com Tour Points for the season.
Joining Griffin in second is Chase Seiffert, who fired a final-round 66 to earn his best finish of his Web.com Tour career. Seiffert played extremely consistent all week, making pars or better on every hole except for one double-bogey made in his second round.
Zack Sucher, Robby Shelton and Steven Alker all finished T4 at 20-under 268.