CORALES PUNTACANA CHAMPIONSHIP

Rookie Ramey Reigns After Late Birdie Binge

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A run of four consecutive birdies starting at the 13th hole Sparked rookie Chad Ramey to his first US PGA title at the Corales Puntacana Championship.

The 29-year-old American fired a five-under-par 67 to finish 72 holes on 17-under 271 at the Dominican Republic resort. That was enough for Ramey, in only his 16th US PGA start, to grab a one-stroke victory over countrymen Alex Smalley, who shot 65, and Ben Martin, who failed in a bid for a wire-to-wire triumph.

"It'll give me a lot of confidence," Ramey said of his victory. "I've always had the self-belief I can get it done and I proved it today." Ranked 203rd in the world, he was coming off his best PGA finish with a share of fifth at the Puerto Rico Open, having missed the cut in seven of his previous nine starts.