Stuard wins Zurich in playoff for 1st PGA victory

3:29 PM ET

AVONDALE, La. — Brian Stuard beat Jamie Lovemark on the second hole of a playoff Monday to capture his first PGA Tour win at the waterlogged Zurich Classic.

Stuard never bogeyed a hole throughout the tournament on the long (7,425-yard), par-72 TPC Louisiana course, which was drenched with more than 4½ inches of rain during the tournament. Weather delays on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday not only forced a Monday finish but also led officials to shorten the tournament to 54 holes.

“I wasn’t playing great. I was just kind of, I don’t know … hanging around,” Stuard said after his final-round 69. “I kind of hung in there all week. I just didn’t get too ahead of myself and just stayed real patient, and it paid off.”

Lovemark, Stuard and Byeong-Hun An entered the playoff at 15 under par.

An unraveled on the first playoff hole and Lovemark on the second while Stuard remained steady, virtually clinching the win with a 160-yard approach to within 2½ of the pin for an easy birdie putt.

Stuard’s best previous PGA Tour finishes were a pair of second places in Mexico, one in 2010 and the other in 2014.

Lovemark came in with only five career top-10 finishes but four of those had come this season for the Californian.

Jason Day, the world’s top-ranked player, wound up tied for fifth with Chris Kirk at 13 under.

“I just wish it was 72 holes,” said Day, who finished before the leaders. “At least I gave myself an opportunity to be around the …

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