Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Canada wins in the Bahamas on the Korn Ferry Tour

By The Associated Press on January 22, 2025.

GREAT ABACO, Bahamas (AP) – Sudarshan Yellamaraju shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Wednesday for a five-stroke victory in the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, the second event of the year on the Korn Ferry Tour.

The 23-year-old Canadian began with a one-shot lead and pulled ahead with five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the front nine at The Abaco Club. He added birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17 to finish his first professional victory at 25-under 263 – a record for the tournament, which dates to 2017.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Russell Knox of Scotland and Kensei Hirata of Japan tied for second at 20 under. The 39-year-old Knox has finished in the top 10 in both Korn Ferry Tour events this year. Hirata, a seven-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, was making his Korn Ferry debut.

Born in India, Yellamaraju moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, with his family as a child and started playing golf at age 6. He turned pro at age 19 – “I didn’t go to college because couldn’t afford to go to college,” he said Wednesday – and competed on the PGA Tour Canada before finishing 99th on the Korn Ferry Tour points list last season as a rookie.

Yellamaraju made it through qualifying school to earn eight guaranteed Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2025. Now he’s exempt through next season and in good position to earn a PGA Tour card.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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