YOUNAN WINS IN PLAYOFF AT ONCORE GOLF CLASSIC AT TALKING STICK

Jake Younan stumbled down the stretch in regulation, but fired back up when it counted, making birdie on the third playoff hole to beat Nathan Lashley and earn his first victory of the season at the OnCore Golf Classic at Talking Stick.

Younan was 7-under through two rounds and one shot back of Lashley, who held the second-round lead at 8-under par after opening rounds of 69-63. Younan carded three birdies on the front nine but had a costly double bogey on the par-4 7th to make the turn at 1-under for the day and 8-under for the tournament.

Lashley birdied three of the first eight holes to get to 11-under, but bogeyed the par-4 ninth to make the turn at 10-under, two shots ahead of Younan with nine holes to play.

Younan stayed even with two birdies and two bogeys through the first seven holes on the back before his birdie on the par-5 17th got him to 9-under and within one shot of Lashley, who dropped to 10-under after back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16.

Facing a one-shot deficit heading into 18, Younan could only manage a par, but was saved when Lashley bogeyed the par-4 18th to finish at 9-under and force a playoff.

Both players made par on the first two playoff holes, and then Younan closed it out with his birdie on 18, his third birdie on the hole during the tournament.

Younan finished with rounds of 69-64-68 and had 17 birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey through the 57 holes to earn his first win and second Top-5 of the year. He was outstanding down the stretch as he was 6-under on holes 17 and 18 throughout the week, including the playoff.

Lashley was eyeing his first win this season but was derailed with three bogeys on the last four holes. He carded rounds of 69-63-69 for his solo second finish.

Hugo Leon fired a final-round 3-under 67 to sneak into third place at 7-under, while Riley Wheeldon, who started the day two shots back of Lashley, carded a disappointing 2-over 72 that included four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey to finish fourth at 4-under par.

Doug Quinones, Alex Moon and Brady Schnell all finished T5 at 3-under par. Quinones carded a 66 to sneak into the Top-5, while Moon jumped into the Top-5 thanks to a birdie and eagle on two of the final three holes.

For complete results from the OnCore Golf Classic at Talking Stick

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Next up on the OnCore Gateway Tour is the Supershuttle Championship, Jan. 25-27 at Trilogy GC at Power Ranch, followed by the Grand Canyon University Classic at Grand Canyon University Golf Club, Feb. 2-4.