Austin Eckroat Picks Up First PGA Tour Win With Cognizant Classic Victory
It took just 50 starts on the PGA Tour for former Oklahoma State national champion Austin Eckroat to record his first career-win. In the weather-delayed Monday start, Eckroat clinched the title of the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, by three strokes by shooting a 17-under 267.
He topped Erik van Rooyen and Min Woo Lee.
“I’m just really happy with how I played The Bear Trap,” Eckroat told NBC Sports following his win. “It’s not a fun finish when you have to hold onto a lead, then the adversity of sleeping mid-round, I’m just really happy with how I handled it.”
The Bear Trap is the 15th-17th holes of the Champions Course at PGA National, which was designed by legendary golfer, Jack Nicklaus. Those three holes are easily considered some of the toughest holes in golf.
Eckroat joins fellow Cowboys Viktor Hovland and Matthew Wolff as the three Cowboys from the 2018 national championship team to win a PGA Tour event. The payout for Eckroat’s win a career-high $1.62 million.
Another fun litle tidbit about Eckroat’s win, posted by the PGA Tour this morning following the event. We knew Eckroat was destined for greatness as he became just the 14th four-time All-American in Oklahoma State program history