Chris Kirk put his local knowledge to good use, winning the 2013 McGladrey Classic at Sea Island GC to earn his first ever Masters invitation.
Kirk, a member of Georgia’s 2005 NCAA championship team, lived on St. Simons Island for most of his professional career before recently returning to the Atlanta area, where he resided in Woodstock from infancy through his college days.
A par on the final hole at Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside course was enough to give Kirk a 14-under par 266 total, one shot ahead of Briny Baird and Tim Clark.
Kirk and Baird entered the final round tied at 10-under and spent the day battling for the lead. They were still tied with one hole to play, with Baird taking bogey on the par-4 18th hole after hitting his second shot from a fairway bunker into the water short of the green.
The win was worth $990,000, 500 FedExCup points and a spot in the 2014 Masters for Kirk, whose previous victory in a second tier PGA Tour event did not earn him a Masters invitation.
Kirk shot his third 66 of the tournament in the final round, opening with back-to-back scores of 4-under. Kirk led by one shot after 36 holes and shared the led with Baird through 54. Baird also played his college golf in Georgia, finishing up at Valdosta State after transferring from Georgia Tech.
Augusta native Scott Brown tied for 4th at 12-under 268, with St. Simons resident Matt Kuchar tying for 7th at 270. Fellow St. Simon’s resident Brian Harman tied for 10th at 272.
Zach Johnson, also part of St. Simons’ large contingent of PGA Tour players, tied for 16th at 273 along with Atlanta residents Brendon Todd, Kirk’s teammate on Georgia’s NCAA championship squad, and Heath Slocum, who won the inaugural McGladrey Classic in 2010.