Tag: Sandals Emerald Bay

Chandler Phillips fights off nerves for first Korn Ferry Tour win at 2023 season opener in the Bahamas

The tour will stay in paradise for a second week with the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club next week.

Chandler Phillips was pretty calm all day, aside from his final two putts of the day. The nerves tend to grow when you’re playing for your first professional win.

The former stamdout at Texas A&M shot a 4-under 68 in the final round to secure his first Korn Ferry Tour win Wednesday at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay. Phillips knew where he stood in the tournament thanks to a scoreboard behind the 18th green, but was able to roll in his par putt on the final hole to preserve a two-shot lead at 14 under as the final group teed off on No. 18.

Cody Blick and Peter Knade finished T-2 at 12 under, with Brett Drewitt, Wil Bateman, Daniel Miernicki, Shad Tuten and Akshay Bhatia all T-4 at 11 under. After missing the cut in his previous two starts in the Bahamas, Tuten held the 54-hole lead for the first time in his career, while Bhatia was aiming to be just the second player to defend a KFT title.

The boys will stay in paradise for another week as the KFT hosts its Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay next week, Jan. 22-25, which also follows a Sunday-to-Wednesday format.

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Akshay Bhatia tied for lead after two days at Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay

Akshay Bhatia won for the first time on the Korn Ferry Tour this time last year.

Akshay Bhatia won for the first time on the Korn Ferry Tour this time last year. Nearing the halfway mark of the 2023 Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, he’s closing in on win No. 2.

Bhatia was 19 and making his first KFT start one year ago when he won. Here in 2023, he opened with a 67 Sunday – the KFT season opening tournament is a Sunday-through-Wednesday affair – and posted a 69 on Monday. He had four bogeys (and two birdies) on the front but closed with four birdies over his last eight holes, including Nos. 15, 16 and 17. Monday’s 67 came despite a double bogey. He is at 8 under. Play Monday was suspended due to darkness with 14 golfers still on the course.

Shad Tuten is also at 8 under after rounds of 69-67. Three golfers – Daniel Miernicki, Chandler Phillips and Cody Blick – are a shot back tied for third, although Blick is only through 15 holes.

Other notables in the field include Chase Seiffert (T-10), Grayson Murray (T-13), Camilo Villegas (T-48) and Willie Mack III (T-93).

First-round leader Jeremy Paul followed up his 65 with a 79 in the second round.

The purse this week is $1 million, with $152,272 going to the winner.