Langley Earns First Professional Victory at Panama Championship
February 4, 2018 | Men's Golf
Fighting Illini alumni Scott Langley had a successful weekend, earning his first professional tournament victory at the Web.com Tour's Panama Championship. Langley shot a 5-under par 65 in the final round of play to recover from a six-stroke deficit and earn a two-stroke win (-7). Langley's victory marked the largest come-from-behind victory in tournament history, a record previously held by Miguel Angel Carballo who came from five strokes behind in 2007 to pick up the title.
Langley also became the first player in tournament history to record an over-par opening round and win, and the first First Tee graduate to win on Tour.
"I felt like today, with the exception of one hole, was one of the best rounds I've ever played," Langley said after the tournament. "This course can play so tough, and the way the wind had picked up, the greens were scary. I won the tournament and these greens still frighten me. They're so fast and with this wind putts can get away from you so quickly, so to shoot five-under is something I will never forget. I hope to use this as a stepping stone for events going forward."
Langley had the lowest round of any player on Sunday, and he carded six birdies in an eight-hole stretch (No. 8-15), before recording a double-bogey on No. 16.
"It kind of just came out of nowhere."@Scott_Langley was all smiles after his Panama Championship win. pic.twitter.com/3GxdtgWJuV
— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) February 5, 2018
"I looked at the leaderboard at that point and thought, 'You know, these guys are playing great but this course is tough and anything can happen.'"
— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) February 5, 2018
Anything did happen, and @Scott_Langley won the Panama Championship.
DAILY WRAP: https://t.co/DsgsIriR94 pic.twitter.com/N5HSLfAoxq
Very proud of @Scott_Langley for the big win today, and also proud of him for the way that he has maintained his confidence and belief in himself throughout his career!! #proudcoach https://t.co/PMfTRb1UQq
— Mike Small (@MikeSmall4) February 4, 2018
Illini alums Luke Guthrie and Brian Campbell joined Langley in the field at the Panama Championship.
On the PGA TOUR, former Illini Steve Stricker tied for 31st at the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a final tally 7-under par. He was joined in the tournament field by D.A. Points.
.@DAPoints closest to the pin & birdie on 16! With a cheer of I-L-L chants! #phxillini pic.twitter.com/5xSwx1WBUe
— Phoenix Illini Club (@phoenixillini) February 1, 2018
Recent Illini graduate Thomas Detry has been seeing success on the European Tour as of late. Detry tied for 23rd at this weekend's Maybank Championship with a tally 12-under par. He has finished among the top 20 in his last three tournaments, also tying for 22nd at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and tying for ninth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Power personified. ?? ????@tomdetry is looking good at five under. pic.twitter.com/uDF3hSo9WI
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 2, 2018
Thomas Pieters is also making waves on the European Tour as he tied for 32nd at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and tied for fifth (-17) at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Final prep done. Excited for tomorrow #ODDC18 pic.twitter.com/2CkyrmvqON
— Thomas Pieters (@Thomas_Pieters) January 24, 2018
