Thelen takes the win in Estrella Del Mar

MAZATLAN, Mexico – Final round of 69 allowed Joel Thelen dedicate 2022-23 Dev Series Finals Champion, event that ended this Saturday in Mazatlán, Mexico. In addition to achieving the victory, the American provided complete conditions for the Latin swing PGA TOUR Americas 2024.

After 72 official holes, the 33-year-old posted a total of 21-under par 263 to outscore compatriot Samuel Anderson (64) and Costa Rican Paul Chaplet (64) by one stroke. Despite falling short of a win, both Anderson and Chaplet also secured full status for the six tournaments that make up the Latin section PGA TOUR of America.

Mexican Fernando Arzate (66) and Americans John Greco (67) and Christophe Sutts (66) finished three shots behind the champion, tying for fourth place. In the seventh box and closing that group of players who went home with conditional status for PGA TOUR Americas Latin Swing, Americans Flint Bekkers (64), Alex Weiss (66), Evan Brown (68) and Jordan Costello (70) tied at 16-under par.

“I am very happy that I won. I knew there weren’t many cards in the game so I’m more than happy with the result,” said Thelen, who became a member of the International Tour for the second time in his career PGA TOUR through the Dev Series Finals.

Thelen started the final round with a four-shot lead and was able to extend it with two birdies in his first three holes. On the par-5 7th, he lost the ball in the rough to the left of the green and had to settle for bogey. He started the round with a birdie at 10 and confirmed his lead with two more birdies at 14 and 15. At 16, things seemed to get a little more difficult for Thelen, who after hesitating between a 5-iron and a 6-iron chose the second to send his shot exit to Hazard. A double bogey on that par 3 opened a little door for Anderson and Chaplet.

In his last two holes, Thelen knew this with two pairs of tournaments It was his. That’s how it was, two pairs and the championship cup in the suitcase on the way home.

“My goal was to end the day with a bigger advantage. Even though I didn’t achieve it, I always had a positive mentality. As I mentioned yesterday, it wasn’t easy to recover from what happened two weeks ago at Q-School, but I came here wanting to do things right. I feel very lucky to be a part of it PGA TOUR of America with a bigger schedule,” said Thelen, who will stay in Mexico and play next week in the Monterrey is the Mexican tour event.

Thelen was part of the Korn Ferry Tour last season and managed to play 21 tournaments. Of the nine cuts he made, his best finish was a tie for 35th at the Albertsons Boise Open hosted by Chevron. On the PGA TOUR Latin America jHe played only three tournaments, and his best performance was a tie for sixth place in the tournament Neuquén Argentina Classic.