Andrew Putnam in Position to Join Brother on PGA Tour


After winning the WNB Golf Classic on Sunday, Andrew Putnam moved up to second on the Web.com Tour's money list. With his first victory on the PGA Tour's developmental circuit the 25-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., earned $108,000 to jump from sixth to second on the money list with $248,273.

Though he had matters well in hand, Putnam's win has an asterisk as the final round at Midland Country Club in Texas was wiped out after high winds cancelled it.

Still, Putnam, who opened with rounds of 66, 66 and 64 in the 72-hole event, officially finished at 20-under 196 through 54 holes, good for a seven-shot amrgin over Sweden's Richard S. Johnson and Australia's Rod Pampling.

"Seven shots was a big margin and I was playing well, but you never really know how it's going to work out," Putnam told reporters. "I had some nervous feelings not knowing if I was going to go out and play.

"It's a bummer that we couldn't play it all the way out. I'm sure it would have been a different feeling walking up 18 with a big lead. I can't remember the last time I won."

The former Pepperdine player secured his first victory on the Web.com Tour in his 32nd start and is virtually assured a place on the 2014-2015 PGA Tour. He will join his 30-year-old brother, Michael, who qualified for the big circuit after two victories in 2013 and was named the Web.com player of the year.

There was some brotherly confusion when it came time to award Andrew the trophy and winner's check. The WNB Golf Classic tournament director "congratulated Michael Putnam for the win at the WNB Golf Classic."

Andrew Putnam closed his eyes and grinned. "He felt pretty bad," Putnam told the Tacoma News Tribune's Todd Milles of the presenter's gaffe.

Putnam was 1-under through seven holes when play was canceled; the final round didn't count. Wind gusts up to 50 mph toppled a couple of portable toilets and the flag on the ninth green was ripped off twice by the winds.

"It was clear blue skies, but here we were wondering if we were going to play golf," Putnam told Milles. "It was pretty bizarre."

Andrew observed Michael earn his PGA Tour card last year and wanted to follow in his older brother's footsteps. "It was always my goal to win early this year," he said. "I saw my brother do it last year when he won twice. He was able to keep that confidence going. When you get off to a hot start it takes pressure off of you."

He added, "I had some top finishes in the beginning of the year. To get a win kind of completes the season."