Sensational six for LIV Golf's hot Chilean
Joaquin Niemann has birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to cap off a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 for his final round and hang on to win LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville.
The 26-year-old Chilean went 15-under 198 for the week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and beat Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (66) and Anirban Lahiri of India (68) by a single stroke. Lahiri had a birdie attempt at his final hole on Sunday to force a playoff with Niemann but could not convert.
Niemann's sixth LIV win - all coming in a 17-month span - broke a tie with Brooks Koepka for the most victories in the Saudi-backed league's brief history.
He had to endure a rain delay and fend off a crowded field of players to finish the job.
"I felt like there was a lot going on during the rain delay," Niemann said.
"Tried to keep my mind on the right thoughts, and having Bryson (DeChambeau) coming off pretty clutch at the end, Phil (Mickelson) as well, Anirban...
"It could have been for anybody, and I felt like I was all day just behind, especially since the beginning of the week, and I feel like the only word that I was telling myself from last night was just have faith. There's nothing else I can do, have a good attitude, and just wait."
The win propels him into next week's US Open, where he is in the field on an exemption reserved for one of the top players in the league.
"I feel like I'm still pretty far away of winning (a major)," Niemann added.
"I'm just happy to be playing at the US Open. It's going to be a great course, pretty tough conditions. I'm just looking forward for that challenge and have a fun week."
After a two-putt birdie at the par-5 14th hole, Niemann sank a nine-footer at the 15th and a 10-footer at the par-3 16th. He reached 15 under par when he stuck his second shot at No.17 to about a foot from the pin to set up a tap-in birdie.
DeChambeau and Mickelson each shot six-under 65s to get into a tie for fourth at 13 under with Belgium's Thomas Pieters (63) and Bubba Watson (67).
Marc Leishman (66) was the leading Australian at nine under and in joint 10th, with Cameron Smith (68) five under, Lucas Herbert (68) three over and Matt Jones (70) seven over.
In the team standings, the DeChambeau-captained Crushers GC went 15 under for the day to finish 36 under par and secure the team title by two strokes over 4Aces GC. It is Crushers' second straight team victory following the last event in South Korea.
Joaquin Niemann has birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to cap off a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 for his final round and hang on to win LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville.
The 26-year-old Chilean went 15-under 198 for the week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and beat Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (66) and Anirban Lahiri of India (68) by a single stroke. Lahiri had a birdie attempt at his final hole on Sunday to force a playoff with Niemann but could not convert.
Niemann's sixth LIV win - all coming in a 17-month span - broke a tie with Brooks Koepka for the most victories in the Saudi-backed league's brief history.
He had to endure a rain delay and fend off a crowded field of players to finish the job.
"I felt like there was a lot going on during the rain delay," Niemann said.
"Tried to keep my mind on the right thoughts, and having Bryson (DeChambeau) coming off pretty clutch at the end, Phil (Mickelson) as well, Anirban...
"It could have been for anybody, and I felt like I was all day just behind, especially since the beginning of the week, and I feel like the only word that I was telling myself from last night was just have faith. There's nothing else I can do, have a good attitude, and just wait."
The win propels him into next week's US Open, where he is in the field on an exemption reserved for one of the top players in the league.
"I feel like I'm still pretty far away of winning (a major)," Niemann added.
"I'm just happy to be playing at the US Open. It's going to be a great course, pretty tough conditions. I'm just looking forward for that challenge and have a fun week."
After a two-putt birdie at the par-5 14th hole, Niemann sank a nine-footer at the 15th and a 10-footer at the par-3 16th. He reached 15 under par when he stuck his second shot at No.17 to about a foot from the pin to set up a tap-in birdie.
DeChambeau and Mickelson each shot six-under 65s to get into a tie for fourth at 13 under with Belgium's Thomas Pieters (63) and Bubba Watson (67).
Marc Leishman (66) was the leading Australian at nine under and in joint 10th, with Cameron Smith (68) five under, Lucas Herbert (68) three over and Matt Jones (70) seven over.
In the team standings, the DeChambeau-captained Crushers GC went 15 under for the day to finish 36 under par and secure the team title by two strokes over 4Aces GC. It is Crushers' second straight team victory following the last event in South Korea.
Joaquin Niemann has birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to cap off a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 for his final round and hang on to win LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville.
The 26-year-old Chilean went 15-under 198 for the week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and beat Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (66) and Anirban Lahiri of India (68) by a single stroke. Lahiri had a birdie attempt at his final hole on Sunday to force a playoff with Niemann but could not convert.
Niemann's sixth LIV win - all coming in a 17-month span - broke a tie with Brooks Koepka for the most victories in the Saudi-backed league's brief history.
He had to endure a rain delay and fend off a crowded field of players to finish the job.
"I felt like there was a lot going on during the rain delay," Niemann said.
"Tried to keep my mind on the right thoughts, and having Bryson (DeChambeau) coming off pretty clutch at the end, Phil (Mickelson) as well, Anirban...
"It could have been for anybody, and I felt like I was all day just behind, especially since the beginning of the week, and I feel like the only word that I was telling myself from last night was just have faith. There's nothing else I can do, have a good attitude, and just wait."
The win propels him into next week's US Open, where he is in the field on an exemption reserved for one of the top players in the league.
"I feel like I'm still pretty far away of winning (a major)," Niemann added.
"I'm just happy to be playing at the US Open. It's going to be a great course, pretty tough conditions. I'm just looking forward for that challenge and have a fun week."
After a two-putt birdie at the par-5 14th hole, Niemann sank a nine-footer at the 15th and a 10-footer at the par-3 16th. He reached 15 under par when he stuck his second shot at No.17 to about a foot from the pin to set up a tap-in birdie.
DeChambeau and Mickelson each shot six-under 65s to get into a tie for fourth at 13 under with Belgium's Thomas Pieters (63) and Bubba Watson (67).
Marc Leishman (66) was the leading Australian at nine under and in joint 10th, with Cameron Smith (68) five under, Lucas Herbert (68) three over and Matt Jones (70) seven over.
In the team standings, the DeChambeau-captained Crushers GC went 15 under for the day to finish 36 under par and secure the team title by two strokes over 4Aces GC. It is Crushers' second straight team victory following the last event in South Korea.
Joaquin Niemann has birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes to cap off a bogey-free, eight-under-par 63 for his final round and hang on to win LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville.
The 26-year-old Chilean went 15-under 198 for the week at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club and beat Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (66) and Anirban Lahiri of India (68) by a single stroke. Lahiri had a birdie attempt at his final hole on Sunday to force a playoff with Niemann but could not convert.
Niemann's sixth LIV win - all coming in a 17-month span - broke a tie with Brooks Koepka for the most victories in the Saudi-backed league's brief history.
He had to endure a rain delay and fend off a crowded field of players to finish the job.
"I felt like there was a lot going on during the rain delay," Niemann said.
"Tried to keep my mind on the right thoughts, and having Bryson (DeChambeau) coming off pretty clutch at the end, Phil (Mickelson) as well, Anirban...
"It could have been for anybody, and I felt like I was all day just behind, especially since the beginning of the week, and I feel like the only word that I was telling myself from last night was just have faith. There's nothing else I can do, have a good attitude, and just wait."
The win propels him into next week's US Open, where he is in the field on an exemption reserved for one of the top players in the league.
"I feel like I'm still pretty far away of winning (a major)," Niemann added.
"I'm just happy to be playing at the US Open. It's going to be a great course, pretty tough conditions. I'm just looking forward for that challenge and have a fun week."
After a two-putt birdie at the par-5 14th hole, Niemann sank a nine-footer at the 15th and a 10-footer at the par-3 16th. He reached 15 under par when he stuck his second shot at No.17 to about a foot from the pin to set up a tap-in birdie.
DeChambeau and Mickelson each shot six-under 65s to get into a tie for fourth at 13 under with Belgium's Thomas Pieters (63) and Bubba Watson (67).
Marc Leishman (66) was the leading Australian at nine under and in joint 10th, with Cameron Smith (68) five under, Lucas Herbert (68) three over and Matt Jones (70) seven over.
In the team standings, the DeChambeau-captained Crushers GC went 15 under for the day to finish 36 under par and secure the team title by two strokes over 4Aces GC. It is Crushers' second straight team victory following the last event in South Korea.
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Currently in camp on the Gold Coast for three weeks, the Stingers next head to Perth, where they will host the USA, who are reigning world champions, and Italy for a training camp and official Test matches. "It's going to be a great opportunity to trial some new things that we've been working on, and to try things without being under the same pressure of being at a world championships," Rippon said. "We will play the Italians at the world championships, so it will be a really good chance to check in and measure up against each other before Singapore." Stingers: Abby Andrews (QLD), Charlize Andrews (QLD), Hayley Ballesty (NSW), Tenealle Fasala (QLD), Sienna Green (NSW), Bronte Halligan (NSW), Sienna Hearn (NSW), Danijela Jackovich (NSW), Tilly Kearns (NSW), Alexie Lambert (NSW),Genevieve Longman (NSW), Olivia Mitchell (NSW), Gabi Palm (QLD), Pippa Pedley (WA), Alice Williams (QLD). Reserves: Claire Durston (NSW), Jessica Emerson (QLD), Nioka Thomas (NSW).
