Peter Malnati wins rain-delayed Sanderson Farms for first PGA Tour win

The PGA Tour’s fifth event of this young season was forced to a Monday finish, but produced the same result from the first four: a first-timer hoisting the trophy.

Peter Malnati became the latest breakthrough champion, taking the weather-delayed Sanderson Farms Championship by a shot over 48-year-old David Toms and veteran William McGirt. Malnati shot a final round of 5-under 67 at the Country Club of Jackson (Miss.) to post an 18-under 270 total.

Malnati entered the final round trailing Toms and rookie Patton Kizzire by a shot. The third round was completed on Monday morning after weather delays on Saturday and Sunday forced a marathon finish. The weekend field didn’t repair for the last round.

The Missouri product got out to a good start with two straight birdies on hole Nos. 3 and 4, but then fell back to even with two consecutive bogeys after that. Another pair of circles on the card had him turning in 2-under 34. On the back nine, Malnati hit flush approach shots on four holes, converting three putts of 10 feet or less for birdies against no bogeys. A tough two-putt par from 50 feet on the last hole had him in the clubhouse, waiting out a potential win.

As Malnati burned the nervous energy with pull-ups, the final 17 players, including a handful of challengers, wrapped up their tournaments. However, none of them could catch the eventual winner.

Roberto Castro, who led through 36 holes, finished tied for fourth with Kizzire, Jhonattan Vegas, Aaron Baddeley and Bryce Molder.

With the win in his 23rd PGA Tour start, Malnati extends an unprecedented streak of first-time winners to start a season. Since 1960, no season had started with more than two first-timer winners.

The PGA Tour season-long record for first-time winners is 18, set in 2002.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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