Stefano Mazzoli buried a final-hole birdie, survived late drama and claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the 2026 Corales Puntacana Championship on Sunday.
Stefano Mazzoli didn’t just win the 2026 Corales Puntacana Championship; he ripped it away with one final charge.
Making only his third PGA Tour start, the 29-year-old Italian delivered a birdie on the 18th hole Sunday to reach 20-under and secure his first career PGA Tour victory.
Mazzoli closed with back-to-back rounds of 66, turning a quiet weekend climb into a $720,000 breakthrough at Corales Golf Club in the Dominican Republic.
The finish had everything: pressure, leaderboard chaos and a brutal stumble from the player who began the day in control.
Todd Clements entered the final round with the lead but opened the door with a costly double bogey at the par-4 13th. Another dropped shot at No. 16 left him chasing Mazzoli down the stretch.
Clements still had one final opportunity to force a playoff, but his birdie attempt on the 18th stopped just short.
That left Clements tied for second at 19-under with Gordon Sargent, one shot behind Mazzoli.
Sargent, 23, also had a chance to reach 20-under on the final hole. He couldn’t convert, but the former Vanderbilt star walked away with something nearly as valuable as the trophy: proof that he can handle Sunday pressure on the PGA Tour.
Sargent remained in contention deep into the final round despite entering unfamiliar territory. His runner-up finish provided a significant confidence boost as he continues building his professional career.
For Mazzoli, the victory carried far more weight than the oversized payday.
The DP World Tour rookie became emotional after learning he had officially won and earned a PGA Tour exemption for next season. His path included years of doubt, sacrifice and choosing practice over the normal social life enjoyed by many of his friends.
Mazzoli has been chasing professional golf since his teenage years. Sunday’s win validated every early morning, skipped night out and uncomfortable moment spent wondering whether the work would eventually pay off.
Ben James also continued his impressive introduction to the PGA Tour. Just over a month into his Tour career, James finished tied for fourth at 18-under alongside Will Gordon.
James entered Sunday within striking distance but managed only one birdie over his final 11 holes, settling for a 2-under 70. His week included a bogey-free 66 during Friday’s second round.
The Corales Puntacana Championship may have been an opposite-field event, but Mazzoli’s finish felt anything but secondary.
One final birdie. One shot clear. One career-changing Sunday.
Mazzoli arrived in Puntacana as a long shot. He left as a PGA Tour champion.
