Stephan Jaeger may have a gotten a final push from inclement weather to win the BMW Charity Pro-Am, but the Chattanooga resident did plenty of work earlier on the way to his second Web.com Tour victory.
The former Baylor School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer was declared the champion Sunday when the tournament’s final round was canceled because of rain in Greer, S.C.
That froze scores at the 54-hole mark, making Jaeger a one-stroke winner at 19-under-par 195. Three golfers shared second place.
“I didn’t miss a shot today, which was cool,” Jaeger joked to The Associated Press. “It’s unfortunate. I was ready to play, I was ready to compete today, but the rain was not letting up and the golf course can only take so much.”
Jaeger missed the chance to play 18 more holes at Thornblade Club, where he shot a 5-under 66 in Friday’s second round to take a share of the lead. The 74 golfers who made the cut for the final round had tested themselves on three different courses, and Jaeger was among the best at each, opening with an 8-under 64 Thursday at The Preserve at Verdae before Saturday’s 6-under 65 at Furman University to shake his co-leaders and everyone else.
Jaeger made two eagles, 17 birdies and just two bogeys in three days.
“It was different because every course was a little different,” the 27-year-old native of Munich, Germany, told pgatour.com “Your strategy changes on each course, and you have to play it differently. It’s different holes. You’re pretty much starting three tournaments in a way. I played very similarly all three days; I hit the ball really good, made a lot of putts.”
Jaeger earned $126,000 for his win, which moves him from 103rd to seventh on the tour’s money list, greatly improving his chances of earning PGA Tour status next year. Last year he set several Web.com Tour scoring records – including an opening 58 – while winning the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae in Hayward, Calif.
Former Dalton (Ga.) High School golfer Blake Adams was 10th at 14 under in the BMW Charity Pro-Am, earning $18,900 to move from 128th to 75th on the money list. Former Baylor School and University of Georgia golfer Keith Mitchell tied for 17th at 11 under to earn $6,872, while Athens, Tenn., native Eric Axley tied for 44th at 9 under to win $2,081.