Nick Hardy and Davis Riley used a Sunday burst to run down the leaders and capture the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, Louisiana. The win marks the first for each on the PGA Tour and comes in the only two-man team event on the Tour.
Hardy and Riley began the weekend on Thursday by shooting a best ball score of 64, which had them just three shots off of the lead heading into day two. The first day of alternate shot play on Friday saw the duo shoot 66 and put them at -14 through two days of play. The format switched back to best ball on Saturday, and they shot a 9-under 63, putting them three shots back of the leaders heading into the final day of play. A 7-under 65 was enough to run down Beau Hossler and Wyndham Clark and secure the victory. The shot of the day might have been an impressive putt by Davis Riley from off the green that went down for birdie on hole 17. That gave them a two-shot lead that they would not relinquish.
For Hossler and Clark, Sunday likely feels like a missed opportunity. The duo led much of the day but was only able to shoot a 1-under 71 in the final round as their lead slipped away in the final stretch of holes. Bogeys on holes 16 and 17 ended any hopes the duo had to win the event.
Defending champions Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay were in the mix, but could not run the leaders down, finishing tied for 4th at -26. Max Homa and Collin Morikawa were considered among the favorites going in but surprisingly failed to make the cut.