J.J. Spaun ends dry spell with Texas Open victory

J.J. Spaun shot a 5-under-par 67 that included a late eagle in the final round of the Valero Texas Open to win the tournament for the second time on a long final day of play Sunday in San Antonio.

Spaun finished at 17-under 271 and then waited for several groups to finish for a one-shot victory at TPC San Antonio's Oaks Course.

Spaun's third PGA Tour victory marked his first triumph since last June's U.S. Open.

It wasn't secured until Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, playing in the final group, misfired on his second shot on the final hole and recovered only for a par, leaving him with 70 for the round and one stroke back.

Michael Kim (69) and England's Matt Wallace (68) also shared second place at 16 under. Andrew Putnam (70) and Sweden's Ludvig Aberg (70) were tied for fifth at 15 under.

MacIntyre, the second-round leader, also had an eagle on No. 17 to keep his hopes alive.

Spaun, also the event's 2022 champion, reached the green off the tee on the par-4 17th hole, notching an eagle that proved enough even though he settled for par on the par-5 18th.

Spaun also had birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 sandwiched around a bogey on the 15th.

Wallace set the pace, exiting the final green at 16 under and holding a one-stroke lead, but some groups had yet to complete nine holes in the final round.

Wallace had 64 for the third round and then heated up again late in the final round with birdies on Nos. 15-17 before taking a par on the par-5 final hole after playing two balls out of the rough.

To expedite play, the golfers stayed in their third-round groups for the final round in what amounted to close to continuous play.

MacIntyre birdied his first hole Sunday -- No. 7 -- but then played the final 11 holes of the third round at 2 over without a birdie and finished with 72.

Japan's Ryo Hisatsune led briefly during the final round, but three bogeys in a five-hole stretch dimmed his chances.

There were weather delays during each of the first three days of the tournament.

--Field Level Media