Miami, FL – There may have been 69 golfers who teed it up on Sunday, but 68 of them were competing for second place.
Jason Kokrak was the lone exception, and his five-under 66 in Sunday's final round completed a dominant seven-shot victory at the Miccosukee Championship.
Kokrak entered the day with a three-shot lead, increased it to four after the first hole and five after the 12th. When he birdied No. 13 to make it a six- shot lead, it was smooth sailing for the two-time winner on tour.
He finished at 20-under 264 overall, setting the new tournament record by four strokes.
This is Kokrak's second win in four events, making him the fourth player to win twice this year on the Nationwide Tour, joining Mathew Goggin, J.J. Killeen and Ted Potter, Jr. While it's likely that all four will be joining the PGA Tour next year as top-25 finishers on the money list, they can gain an automatic promotion with a win in next week's Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open, which is the final full-field event of the year.
Following the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open is the Nationwide Tour Championship, a limited field including only the top 60 on the money list. Several players took advantage of their opportunity at Miccosukee Golf & Country Club this week to either put themselves into the top 60 or good position to make the top 60 with one more solid performance.
Craig Bowden (69), who came into the week ranked No. 61, won $11,400 for a six-way tie for 12th at eight-under, which puts him into the mid-50s and in position to play in two weeks.
Harris English (69), who is playing in only his sixth event as a professional, moved from 81st to on the bubble with his share of third at 11-under 273, winning $31,200.
Roger Tambellini (71), Chris Nallen (73) and John Kimbell (69) all moved from the mid-70s to just outside the top 60. Tambellini shared third with English and Matt Every (72); Nallen tied for ninth at nine-under; and Kimbell (69) was part of the six-way tie for 12th.
Mark Anderson (68) finished a distant second at 13-under 271 and will improve upon his 53rd spot on the money list.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
