Kevin ChappellKevin Chappell
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Chappell after sinking his birdie putt on the final hole of the Valero Texas Open (Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)

Chappell Wins in Texas for First TOUR Victory

Men's Golf

Kevin Chappell birdied his 72nd hole to win the first PGA TOUR event of his career.


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SAN ANTONIO, Texas - It took 180 tournaments, but Bruin alum Kevin Chappell is finally at the top of the PGA TOUR mountain after winning the Valero Texas Open with a birdie on the 72nd hole at the TPC San Antonio.

Chappell shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday to finish at 12-under (276) to win by one stroke. The overnight leader, he made two early birdies on #2 and #3 before dropping a shot on #5. A birdie on the par-3 seventh got Chappell back to 2-under for the round and -10 overall. He also birdied #10 and #14 to get to 12-under for the first time, but bogeyed #15 to see his lead cut to one stroke. Heading to the par-5 18th, Chappell was even with Brooks Koepka at -11. After laying up from the rough with his second shot, Chappell hit his third to within eight-feet, two-inches of the cup. He would drain the birdie putt to clinch his first victory on the PGA TOUR.

"I felt like I had some unfinished business here," Chappell told PGATOUR.com. "… A lot of hard work went into this, and I don't think I would have had it any other way. Those people that know me [know] I do everything the hard way – and 180 starts later, that's pretty hard."

Fresh off his best season as a pro in 2015-2016, earning just over $4.5 million thanks to four second-place finishes and eight Top 10s, Chappell has now earned over $12.6 million in his 180 PGA TOUR tournaments since 2008.