Longbella wins in Ecuador 🏆🇪🇨@TBalla21 picks up his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned victory at the KIA Open. pic.twitter.com/p7bmqSiqnU
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) May 5, 2024
Thomas Longbella captured his first PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament victory this weekend, winning the KIA Open at Quito Tenis Y Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador.
Longbella entered Sunday's fourth round of the PGA Tour Americas event with a one-shot lead at 16-under and the final round was canceled due to inclement weather and Longbella was declared the winner.
The McDonell graduate and former University of Minnesota golfer shot a 7-under 65 on Saturday to storm into the lead and ultimately prevailed by one shot over Gunn Yang at 15-under and by three shots over several additional golfers. Longbella birdied six holes and bogeyed one before registering an eagle on the par five 17th hole to help move into first.
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Longbella shot a 6-under 66 in Thursday's first round before carding a 3-under 69 on day two leading into Saturday's charge.
So far this year Longbella has played a busy schedule with events in three different organizations. Longbella made his second PGA Tour start recently, missing the cut by one shot at the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic on April 21. Longbella also had two missed cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour — the PGA Tour's developmental circuit.
Thomas Longbella's 20-plus year golf journey his a milestone Thursday as he makes his PGA Tour debut at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
The PGA Tour Americas is a circuit combining the previous PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica tours with Latin America events from February through May before events take place in the United States and Canada from June through September. The tour provides chances for golfers to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour and the final stage of the PGA Tour's Q-School.
This week marked Longbella's fourth PGA Tour Americas start of the season. Longbella tied for 21st in his first start of the year at the Bupa Championship at Tulum before tying for 10th at the Totalplay Championship at at Atlas Country Club, both in late March in Mexico. Most recently Longbella missed the cut at the Diners Club Peru Open last weekend in Peru.
With the victory Longbella improves to fourth place in the season-long Fortinet Cup standings. The top ten finishers in the season-long Fortinet Cup standings receive tour cards for the Korn Ferry Tour for the next season. Additionally the top two finishing golfers from the Latin America portion of the schedule and top three finishers from the North American swing will earn conditional Korn Ferry memberships if they finish outside the top ten in the season standings.
The final PGA Tour Americas event of the Latin America swing is the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship in Bogota, Columbia and takes place on May 16-19. The Canada and United States swing starts June 20-23 with The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
In high school at McDonell, earned medalist honors in 30 of 40 tournament he competed in, including a Division 3 state championship in 2014 by seven strokes. The summer after the WIAA state championship Longbella won the WSGA Junior Boys Championship and competed in the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and Junior PGA Championship tourneys.
Ultimately Longbella committed to be a Golden Gopher, and spent five seasons with the program. Out of college season, Longbella won the 119th Wisconsin State Amateur Championship in 2020 and since graduating from Minnesota has committed to playing professional golf with this weekend serving as his biggest victory to date.
IN PHOTOS: Chippewa Falls golfer Thomas Longbella through the years
WIAA Division 3 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course
WIAA Division 3 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course
Bloomer Boys Golf Invite 4-25-14
Bloomer Boys Golf Invite 4-25-14
Bloomer Boys Golf Invite 4-25-14
WIAA Division 3 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course
WIAA Division 3 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course
Bloomer boys golf invite 4-24-15
Bloomer boys golf invite 4-24-15
Division 3 Boys Golf Regionals at Whispering Pines Golf Course 5-28-15
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Division 3 Boys Golf Regionals at Whispering Pines Golf Course 5-28-15
Chi-Hi Boys Golf Invitational 4-23-16
Chi-Hi Boys Golf Invitational 4-23-16
Bloomer Boys Golf Invitational 4-29-16
Bloomer Boys Golf Invitational 4-29-16
WIAA Division 2 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course 5-31-16
WIAA Division 2 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course 5-31-16
WIAA Division 2 Boys Golf Sectionals at Lake Wissota Golf Course 5-31-16
Thomas Longbella State
Thomas Longbella
Thomas Longbella
Thomas Longbella
Thomas Longbella
Longbella wins in Ecuador 🏆🇪🇨@TBalla21 picks up his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned victory at the KIA Open. pic.twitter.com/p7bmqSiqnU
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) May 5, 2024