Australian golfer Harrison Endycott is eyeing a spot on the PGA Tour after breaking his title drought with an emotional win on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour.
Endycott clinched a five-stroke victory at the Huntsville Championship in Alabama after all but giving up hope of landing a maiden professional victory.
The 25-year-old New South Welshman, who turned pro in 2017, said the timing was special after losing his grandmother last week.
"I never thought I'd win over here - there was a time where I asked, did I ever think I was actually going to win again," Endycott told the Korn Ferry Tour after earning $A190,000 in first prizemoney.
"It's very special. I can't believe I just got it done this week. I've been so frustrated at golf for a long time, and it finally happened.
"It's just a long journey here, and we dealt with a lot of real hardships, our family.
"I lost my mum to cancer in 2012, and sadly last week I lost my grandmother, too. The timing of this win is just really special."
On the back of the victory Endycott has jumped from 103rd to 12th on the Korn Ferry Tour money list, with the top 25 at the end of the regular season earning PGA Tour status in 2023.
Endycott carried a five-stroke lead into the final round at The Ledges and finished with an even-par 70, draining an 11-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to close at 16-under par.
He had built a buffer with an opening 63 and backed that up with rounds of 67 and 64.
Playing in the final group Sunday, Endycott opened with back-to-back pars and saw his lead grow to seven strokes as playing partners Ben Taylor and Quade Cummins hit speed bumps.
He also stumbled with two bogeys and seven pars to turn in two-over-par.
Birdies at the par-4 14th and 16th holes allowed him to cruise home with his bogey at the 17th erased by his final-hole birdie.
Endycott opened this season with a T19 at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, but finished T32 or worse the next five starts.
Prior to Sunday's win, the closest Endycott came to a professional victory was a runner-up finish at the 2018 Victorian Open.
"It's just a really, really emotional win for me," he said.
"It hits home a little bit not being able to do it in front of my friends and family, but I'm very blessed to be able to get it done this week."
