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Billy Hurley captures his first PGA Tour title

By The Sports Xchange
Billy Hurley III, of Annapolis, Maryland, holds the Quicken Loans National Trophy following the final round of the Quicken Loans National golf tournament at Congressional CC in Bethesda, Maryland on June 26, 2016. Hurley shot a 2-under 69 on Sunday for his first tournament win. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI
1 of 3 | Billy Hurley III, of Annapolis, Maryland, holds the Quicken Loans National Trophy following the final round of the Quicken Loans National golf tournament at Congressional CC in Bethesda, Maryland on June 26, 2016. Hurley shot a 2-under 69 on Sunday for his first tournament win. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo

Billy Hurley III, the world's 607th-ranked player, earned his first career PGA Tour victory when he captured the Quicken Loans National by three shots Sunday in Bethesda, Md.

A 34-year-old Annapolis, Md., resident who attended the U.S. Naval Academy and spent five years as a Naval officer, Hurley broke through on tour in his hometown event. He closed with a 2-under-par 69 at Congressional Country Club's Blue Course to finish at 17-under 267.

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Since joining the PGA Tour in 2012, Hurley's season-best money total was $1.1 million two years ago. He received $1,242,000 for the win Sunday.

Fiji's Vijay Singh tied for the low round of the day, 65, and finished in second place at 270.

Spain's Jon Rahm, making his professional debut after a stellar collegiate career at Arizona State, closed with a 70 and tied for third at 271. He was the low amateur last week at the U.S. Open. Bill Haas also came in at 271 after a 68 on Sunday.

South Africa's Ernie Els, who was tied for second heading into the last round, finished with a 72 to claim fifth place at 272.

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Webb Simpson (final-round 71) came in sixth at 274, and Harold Varner III (70) took seventh at 275.

Robert Garrigus (70) and Italy's Francesco Molinari (65) shared eighth place at 276, and Smylie Kaufman (67) and Rob Oppenheim (68) tied for 10th.

Hurley's lead was just one shot as he approached a chip shot on the 15th hole. He knocked in the 35-yard shot for a birdie, then made a 27-foot birdie putt on the next hole to pull away.

"I'm just thrilled to have gotten it done today," said Hurley, whose father disappeared this week last year and later committed suicide. "It's been a hard year. It's been a really hard year, so it's nice to have something go well."

With the victory, Hurley secured a place in the Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland next month. He is projected to jump from 198th to 70 in the PGA Tour's season-long FedExCup standings, from which the top 125 players make the postseason.

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