Sydney’s Mitch Krywulycz created his own slice of golfing history recently, becoming the first person from outside the Americas to win on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour.
Krywulycz, 27, turned in four stellar sub-par rounds to win the Colombian Classic in a thrilling final-day shootout by one stroke for his second professional win.
The New South Wales Golf Club member previously had won the 2013 Sedgefield Classic in North Carolina on the eGolf Tour, but that had was a 54-hole event.
But in his 15th start on the Latinoamérica Tour, one of the PGA Tour’s stepping stones towards the Web.Com Tour, he improved his season dramatically.
Krywulycz, who played alongside Presidents Cup star Patrick Reed and won two NCAA championship teams at Augusta State University, held his nerve on the last hole after making a critical birdie on the 17th hole to sign for a closing 66 at the Club Campestre El Rancho.
“I haven’t been that well coming into this week and my friends gave me a lot of help with my game,” the Sydneysider said.
“I put in a lot more hours than what I normally had and it paid dividends. It feels unbelievable considering how I have been playing. It’s enjoyable to play really good golf, makes me happy.”
Krywulycz credited fellow Aussies Brady Watt and Ryan McCarthy for helping him straighten out his putter.
“It made me excited to play golf again. I was excited to come out here each day and play golf and it was enjoyable.”
With just $US1439 in earnings through eight starts, entering the week as the 127th ranked player on the Order of Merit, Krywulycz charged up to 11th spot with his winner’s cheque for $US31,500.
“This completely changes the second half of my year. It’s really exciting,” said the Tour’s latest champion who is now in position to at least skip the first stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.