It only took eight tournaments on the PGA Tour for Cameron Champ to capture his first victory. The 23-year-old former Oklahoma State University star, and former No. 1 ranked amateur, literally flew past the field to win the Sanderson Farms Open, in Jackson, Miss.
Champ used his enormous length off the tee _ 343-yard average for the week_ to eat up the par-5s, and post a score of 21-under, and a four-shot victory. There is significance to Champ’s victory. He is the first golfer of African descent _ other than Tiger Woods _ to win on the PGA Tour since Jim Thorpe won the 1986 Seiko Match Play.
Champ is the son of a black father and white mother. He was introduced to the sport by his paternal grandfather (Mack) when he was only 2-years-old. He exploded on the world golf at the 2017 U.S. Open, where he was in the hunt for the title. Champ was four-under par through the first three rounds, before fading to a four-over-par 76 on the final day.
Champ used his prodigious length to overpower the field at the Sanderson Open. His 343-yard driving average was 29-yards farther than the next competitor. Click below to see highlights of Champ’s final round.
