SILVIS, Illinois (August 17, 2020) – Former LSU standout Landon Lyons topped two-time APGA Tour winner Tim O’Neal on the first playoff hole to win the APGA Tour at TPC Deere Run tournament Monday. The Austin, Texas, native now residing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, birdied the first extra hole for the second APGA Tour title of his four-year career.
O’Neal, the Savannah, Georgia, winner of two APGA Tournaments earlier this year, forged a tie after 36 holes, making up two strokes on Lyons, the first-round leader with a three-under 68 on the prestigious, PGA TOUR-owned course. Located two hours west of Chicago, TPC Deere Run annually plays host to the PGA TOUR’s John Deere Classic, which this year was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
The field consisted of 53 players competing under social-distancing and health/safety guidelines in conjunction with regional authorities. Lyons took home the first-place check of $7,500 from a purse of $24,000.He also earned 600 points to move into third place in the season-long Lexus Cup Point Standings behind O’Neal and second place Kelby Burton.
“I hit the ball well off the tee box which gave me opportunities to fire at the flags and convert some good birdies, “ said Lyons, who won the APGA Tour at Long Beach event in 2018 and finished second in the Lexus Cup race that year. “It’s an awesome experience playing TPC Deere Run.”
Lyons and O’Neal were followed by Kamaiu Johnson, who stands sixth in the points race; amateur star Mulbe Dillard, who plays college golf for Florida A&M; and APGA Tour standouts Brad Adamonis and Joe Hooks.
Ralph Alford is another shot back at even par 71 and Willie Mack leads a group at one over-par 72.
Competitioncontinues later this month with the APGA Tour Los Angeles, a one-day event on Sunday, August 30, at Montebello Golf Course in Montebello, California. The APGA Tour Championship Presented by Lexus will then take place on September 1-2 at Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry, California.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Kamaiu Johnson, APGA Pro Golfer Cinches Farmer’s Insurance Sponsorship
The APGA Tour Presented by Lexus is a nonprofit organization with the mission of bringing greater diversity to the game of golf. Now in its 11th year, the tour consists of 10 events offering over $250,000 prize money. TPC Deere Run is one of several TPC course hosting APGA Tour events as part of the APGA’s partnership with the PGA TOUR.
The season concludes in October with the APGA Tour Salute to African American golfers at Chester Washington Golf Course in Los Angeles. The double-tournament event includes a seniors competition on Oct. 11-12 and the Lexus Cup Invitational on Oct. 11-13 featuring the top 26 players in the Lexus Cup Point Standings plus four amateurs.
