Ollie Schniederjans wins Air Capital Classic in playoff

Ollie Schniederjans stood on the green where he secured his first professional victory Sunday afternoon, expressing what sounded like the perfect Web.com Tour mission statement.

Schniederjans, who made a huge splash at the Air Capital Classic as the world’s No. 1 amateur two years ago, had just outlasted J.J. Spaun and another amateur phenom, Collin Morikawa, in a two-hole playoff for a victory at Crestview Country Club that ensured his promotion to the PGA Tour this fall.

But Schniederjans, a 23-year-old from Alpharetta, Ga., wasn’t looking ahead.

“I can’t believe how much I’ve learned this year,” said Schniederjans, who posted a 72-hole total of 17-under-par 263 and won the sixth playoff in the Air Capital Classic’s 27-year history. “I never would’ve thought I’d have this much to get better at and this much to learn.”

Schniederjans held off spirited charges by Spaun and Morikawa by rolling in a left-to-right, 18-foot birdie putt to end the sudden-death playoff on the par-4 18th. The $112,500 champion’s cut vaulted him from 14th to third on the Web.com season money list.

“I felt like there was a 20 percent chance of making it,” said Schniederjans, who reached the playoff with 3-under-par 67, one day after tying Crestview North’s competitive course record of 61. “With an 18-foot slider, I just wanted to pure the heck out of it and see what happens.

“It went in beautifully. It was incredible.”

As Schniederjans has already learned this season, getting there wasn’t easy. He lost a playoff to Canadian Brad Fritsch at the Servientrega Championship two months ago in Colombia when he hit two balls into a water hazard on the extra hole.

Schniederjans rocketed 26 spots into the lead Saturday with his nine-birdie effort. The final round was his maiden voyage with a 54-hole lead as a pro.

“I was definitely nervous, but definitely had a great view coming in that I wanted to have no regrets and play with the highest levels of acceptance and forgiveness of myself with every shot, every mistake,” Schniederjans said.

Tournament officials elected to start the final round early to beat the threat of inclement weather. But for Schniederjans, it was Spaun, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, and Morikawa, a 19-year-old sophomore at California, who brought the thunder.

Spaun didn’t appear to be a threat after making bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes. But he hit a spectacular second shot to within five feet at the 501-yard 14th and rolled in an eagle putt.

Three consecutive birdies later, including a crowd pleaser in front of a large gathering at the par-3 17th, and Spaun caught Schniederjans at 17 under.

“I didn’t even look at the leaderboard, but I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got to do something here,’” Spaun said. “It was just special that I was able to make a run and put myself in contention.”

Morikawa, who earned a spot in the Air Capital Classic by winning the Trans-Mississippi Championship last July at Andover’s Flint Hills National, rekindled memories of Schniederjans’ run to a fifth-place finish as an amateur at Crestview. He also started his charge with an eagle at No. 14, then added birdies at 15, 16 and 18.

The last was an uphill 30-footer that completed his second consecutive 63.

“I just had so much fun out there,” said Morikawa, who was the Pac-12 freshman of the year this spring. “I definitely looked at the leaderboard a lot and I wasn’t really in it until I made the eagle and a birdie after that.”

But after all three golfers made pars on the first playoff hole, the door opened for Schniederjans. Playing the 18th again, Spaun hit his approach over the green and pitched to four feet. Morikawa left a 35-foot birdie attempt short of the hole.

Then Schniederjans, who played his last 48 holes of the tournament without a bogey, rolled in the winning putt, dropped his putter and raised his arms skyward.

“I needed this year on the (Web.com Tour), honestly,” said Schniederjans, who has already played in 14 PGA Tour events, including the 2015 U.S. and British Opens. “I don’t think I was ready for the PGA Tour.

“This year, I’ve gotten so many things in order as to how I go about my business. How I am physically, mentally, in the gym, practice week to week … so this year is completely preparing me. I feel like I’ll be going out there with the best version of myself.”

Notes — Sterling native Michael Gellerman shot a 65 Sunday to climb into a tie for 17th. His 11-under-par finish earned him $10,313 and his place in the top 25 advances him to the Web.com’s next event, the LECOM Health Challenge, July 7-10 in Findley Lake, N.Y. … Former Wichita State golfer Ryan Spears, who shot 72 Sunday, tied for 47th. … The playoff was the Air Capital Classic’s first since 2005, when Joe Daley defeated Shane Bertsch.

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Ollie Schniederjans wins Air Capital Classic in playoff."