The Clubhouse: Ventura wins the Utah Championship, Hovland impresses again

Kristopher Ventura wins the Utah Championship presented by Zion Bank

Former Oklahoma State Golf standout Kristoffer Ventura earned his first win on the Korn Ferry Tour yesterday in the Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank, beating Joshua Creel in an exciting three hole playoff.

The 24-year-old Ventura, who like Hovland is from Norway, birdied four of his last seven holes to post a final-round, 6-under 65 and get into a two-man playoff with Creel at 14 under, a shot ahead of another former Cowboy, Kevin Dougherty, and two others, Oklahoma product Charlie Saxon and Michigan State alum Ryan Brehm.

“Going back to nationals [in college], really those feelings were the same as they were today,” Ventura said. “I was prepared for this moment.”

Ventura’s win moved the young Norwegian to 17th on the Korn Ferry Tour’s money list. The world No. 732 entering the week, Ventura began the year with no status on the developmental tour. He received a sponsor invite into the BMW Charity Pro-Am earlier this month and tied for third to improve his status. The Utah Championship was just his fourth KFT start this season. The Golf Channel

Hovland finishes 13th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic

As for Hovland, the beginning of his PGA career continues to go smoothly as he shot an eight under 64 on Sunday to finish fifteen under for the tournament and tied for thirteenth at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

In order to continue to receive unlimited exemptions, a player needs to amass 266 FedEx Cup points in that seven-start stretch. Hovland picked up six of them with a T-54 finish in his pro debut at the Travelers Championship and will have about 200 points left to go after a solid finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Hovland made the cut on the number and shot 7-under 64 to shoot up the leaderboard in Sunday’s final round. Golfweek

“To make a couple birdies coming in to make the cut on the number was huge,” Hovland said. “With the round today, that’s really going to help me out.”

Wolff misses the cut.

Wolff shot an opening round 75 at the Rocket Mortgage, which led to him missing the cut despite a second round 68. He and Hovland will both play next week at the 3M Open in Minnesota as they look to earn PGA Tour cards for next season.

Former Cowboys Rickie Fowler and Charles Howell III also show out at the Rocket Mortgage

Charles Howell III finished eleven under and tied for 35th and Rickie Fowler was tied for 46th at nine under.