Chris Gotterup Dominates Myrtle Beach Classic for Maiden PGA Tour Victory

Chris Gotterup finished at 22-under 262 to claim a six-shot victory at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic, securing his first career win on the PGA Tour.

Chris Gotterup carded a final-round 4-under 67 at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club to finish with a 22-under-par total of 262, securing a six-stroke victory at the inaugural Myrtle Beach Classic. The 24-year-old American began Sunday with a four-shot lead and maintained his dominance despite a rocky start that included two bogeys in his first four holes. He recovered by playing the final 14 holes in 6-under par, ultimately distancing himself from runners-up Alistair Docherty and Davis Thompson, who both finished at 16-under 268. This performance earned Gotterup a $720,000 winner's check from the $4 million purse and 300 FedEx Cup points.

Statistically, Gotterup’s week was defined by his prowess off the tee and precision on the greens. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee, gaining 5.378 strokes on the competition, and ranked first in driving distance with an average of 324.9 yards. His third-round 60, which featured nine birdies and an eagle, set the tournament record and provided the cushion necessary for his comfortable Sunday finish. During that historic Saturday loop, he hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation, needing only 23 putts to complete the lowest round of his professional career.

The victory provides Gotterup with significant exemptions, including entry into the PGA Championship at Valhalla and the 2025 Sentry tournament in Hawaii. He also secured his PGA Tour card through the 2026 season, a vital security for the former Jack Nicklaus Award winner. Entering the week ranked 284th in the Official World Golf Ranking, this result propelled him into the top 150 globally. His scorecard for the week featured 24 birdies and two eagles against just six bogeys, illustrating a scoring average of 65.5 per round across the 7,347-yard par-71 layout.

Trailing the leader, Alistair Docherty posted a final-round 64 to climb into a tie for second place, marking his best career finish on the PGA Tour. Davis Thompson joined him at 16-under after a closing 68, while Ryan McCormick, Beau Hossler, and Mac Meissner finished in a three-way tie for fourth at 15-under 269. Gotterup’s six-shot margin of victory represents one of the largest gaps on the tour this season, underscoring the lopsided nature of the competition in South Carolina. He became the first player since 2022 to make the Myrtle Beach Classic his maiden tour title.

During the final stretch, Gotterup birdied the par-5 13th and the par-5 15th holes to extinguish any hopes of a comeback from the chasing pack. He successfully navigated the difficult 'Alligator Alley' stretch—holes 11, 12, and 13—without dropping a shot on Sunday. His total of 262 strokes is the lowest four-day aggregate recorded at the Dunes Club in a professional sanctioned event. The University of Oklahoma product now heads to the year's second major with momentum, having proven his ability to protect a multi-shot lead under final-round pressure.