Article content
Ben Silverman shot ahead and then held on for dear life to win the Korn Ferry Tour’s Bahamas Great Abaco Classic on Wednesday.
Article content
The 35-year-old Canadian — playing on a sponsor’s exemption — shot a front nine five-under 31 and had a five-stroke lead with eight holes to play, but double bogeyed the closing hole to fall into a tie for the lead with Cody Blick at 15-under par and head to playoff.
Article content
Back at the 18th hole for the playoff, this time it was Blick who found the hazard and made double bogey at the par-5 along the ocean, allowing Silverman to claim his second Korn Ferry Tour victory with a par.
Article content
“Maybe if there is one lesson for aspiring golfers to learn, it’s that you’re never out of it until it’s over,” Silverman said in a video posted by the Korn Ferry Tour after the win. “I double bogeyed coming down my last hole — in control the whole weekend — and somehow managed to bring it home in a playoff. Don’t ever give up.”
Article content
The Thornhill, Ont., native shot a final round two-under 70, following rounds of 71-65-67 that had staked him to a two-shot lead through 54 holes.
Silverman’s first win on the Korn Ferry Tour came in 2017 during a season that saw him promoted to the PGA Tour for the 2018 season. He played two seasons on the PGA Tour, finishing outside the top-125 in the FedEx Cup standings each year. Silverman also qualified for the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
The Canadian earned $180,000 US for the win as well as an honorary membership at The Abaco Club, but it’s safe to say his eyes are now focused on making a return to the PGA Tour.