Flanagan Birdies 4th Extra Hole to Win Sunshine State Classic

National

LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- Angus Flanagan came to the 18th hole in the final round of the Sunshine State Classic on Jan. 30 needing a birdie just to get into a playoff for first place. The 24-year-old former University of Minnesota All-American from Woking, England, got the birdie and then, after narrowly missing birdie putts on the first three holes of the playoff, he birdied the fourth extra hole to claim the victory.

Flanagan, who won the Minnesota State Open as an amateur in 2020 and won the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am twice after turning professional, stopped his second shot 5 feet from the cup on the 450-yard, par-4 18th hole on the West Course at Fountains Country Club. He converted the birdie putt for a 4-under-par 67 and a 36-hole total of 133 (9 under). That matched the total that had been posted by Tyler Strafaci, the former All-American from Georgia Tech -- and the 2020 U.S. Amateur champion.

Both Flanagan and Strafaci had pretty good birdie chances on the first three playoff holes but neither of them could convert. At  No. 4 West (387 yards, par 4), Strafaci burned the edge from 25 feet. Flanagan had a 15-footer, and he made it. 

The victory was worth $10,000 to Flanagan. He also got $450 from the bonus pool, and the $10,450 that he earned has him at the No. 3 spot on the Minor League Golf Tour money list. 

This was the third time he's been in a playoff for an MLGT title, but the first time he's won.

It was another former Gopher, Thomas Longbella of Chippewa Falls, who set the course record at Fountains CC West two years ago, when he won this tournament with a 61. 

Flanagan made it through the First Stage of PGA Tour/Korn Ferry Q-School last fall, but he got off to a bad start (a 3-over 75) in the Second Stage in Port St. Lucie, Fla. He came back with 72-70-70 on the Tesoro Club's 7,300-yard Palmer Course and missed advancing by three shots with his 72-hole total of 287. 

2024 Sunshine State Classic

At Fountains Country Club - West Course

Par 71, 6,789 yards

Lake Worth, Fla. 

Final results 

1. Angus Flanagan          $10,000       66-67--133 (won playoff  with birdie on the fourth extra hole)

2. Tyler Strafaci                   $4,000        67-66--133

T3. Ryan Cole                     $2,500        66-68--134

T3. Ryler Copp                    $2,500        68-66--134