Reavie Holds Off Challenge, Wins Travelers Championship

CROMWELL, CT — Third-round leader Chez Reavie started Sunday afternoon with a 6-stroke advantage in the Travelers Championship, saw his lead over playing partner Keegan Bradley shrink to one, then enjoyed a 3-shot swing on the penultimate hole to clinch his second victory on the PGA TOUR, and first since 2008.

Reavie, a 37-year-old Kansas native, closed the tournament with a 1-under par 69 to finish four strokes ahead of Bradley and Zack Sucher. He earned $1.296 million with the victory.

A course record-tying 28 on the back nine Saturday put Reavie in the driver's seat heading to the first tee in the final round. Playing conservatively, he had one birdie and one bogey on the outward nine, while Bradley made up one shot off the deficit by making a pair of birdies, offset by a long bogey.

As Reavie maintained his position with pars on the first seven holes on the back nine, the New England-bred Bradley made his move. He birdied 10, 11, 13 and 15, the latter eliciting a fist pump as the crowd cheered on the Vermont native. He closed within one at 15-under heading to the final three holes.

After both players parred the par-3 16th, the two most difficult holes on the course awaited them, with the championship hanging in the balance. Bradley teed off first and wound up in a fairway bunker, while Reavie steadily hit his tee shot down the left side of the fairway.

The championship was decided in the next few minutes. Bradley flew his approach shot from the bunker over the back left side of the green, then left his third shot about 17 feet from the cup. Meanwhile, Reavie's 150-yard approach shot landed 14 feet from the pin.

Bradley wound up missing his par putt, then failed to convert a three and a half foot comebacker, carding a double-bogey 6 which effectively gave Reavie the championship. The title was cemented when Reavie dropped his right-to-left curler into the cup, re-establishing a 4-stroke lead with one to play.

Chez Reavie drops the day's final putt to finish at 17-under par, four strokes better than runners-up Keegan Bradley and Zack Sucher. (Tim Jensen/Patch Media Corp.)

New England native Keegan Bradley sinks a birdie putt on No. 15 to close within one shot of leader Chez Reavie. Bradley finished tied for second. (Tim Jensen/Patch Media Corp.)