Cao Runs Away with CRMC Championship for First PGA Tour Canada Win

BRAINERD, Minn. - Making his 48th career start this week at the CRMC Championship at Cragun's Dutch Legacy Course, Yi Cao pulled away from the field by matching the season-low 72-hole scoring mark at 22-under 258, defeating Jeffrey Kang by eight strokes to claim his first PGA Tour Canada win.

Cao posted a 5-under 65 during Saturday's third round, and followed it with a second straight round of 65 Sunday—the same number of holes he played without a bogey to close out the championship.

“I can finally call myself the best player of the week,” said Cao, who nearly pulled out of this week's championship due to a neck injury. “I'm proud of myself even though I wasn't feeling great. I kept hanging in there and kept making putts.

“Gives myself a lot of confidence for sure. I might not be the lowest of the day, but I'm the lowest of the whole week. There's lots of things going on in my head the last couple of weeks—so many doubts. But long story short, I love golf and I don't want to do anything else.”

Entering the week 55th in the Fortinet Cup standings, Cao moved up 46 places, and now can earn Korn Ferry status for the 2023-24 season if he moves inside the top-5 at next week's season finale in Calgary.

Cao began Sunday's final round with a five-stroke advantage, and would roll in three birdie chances during his outward nine to reach 20-under for the tournament.

The 32-year-old native of Beijing, China slowed his pace slightly during his back nine before taking advantage of the par-5 16th, sinking his birdie opportunity to move to 21-under.

Left with 12 feet for birdie, Cao curled in a left-to-right breaker on the final hole to claim an eight-stroke victory, the largest margin of victory on Tour this season. Cao earns the top prize of over $29,000 to push his earnings for the season over $35,000.

“Right now, it feels like a dream, but I want to keep pushing and see how good I can be,” he said.

Entering the final round seven shots back, Kang looked to keep pace with Cao by rolling in two birdies during his front nine Sunday to reach 12-under for the tournament.

Kang, who hails from Los Angeles, made a charge by converting three consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 12th to get to 15-under, but he was slowed by a bogey at the 16th, carding a final-round 66 to place second at 14-under 266.

American Sam Jean posted a final-round 69 to finish in third place at 13-under 267, while Gavin Hall and Blake Tomlinson earned a share of fourth at 268.

Derek Hitchner, winner of the 2021 Trans-Mississippi Amateur and Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship, carded a round of even par Sunday to place tied for 34th, leading all Minnesotans in the field this week.

Hitchner finishes 45th in the Fortinet Cup standings to earn a spot in the Fortinet Cup Tour Championship next week.



THE 2023 CRMC CHAMPIONSHIP
CRAGUN'S DUTCH LEGACY COURSE
BRAINERD, MINN.
7,001 YARDS, PAR 70


SUNDAY'S FINAL RESULTS
1. Yi Cao, China, 66-62-65-65—258
2. Jeffrey Kang, United States, 70-67-63-66—266
3. Sam Jean, United States, 66-68-64-69—267
T4. Gavin Hall, United States, 68-67-67-66—268
T4. Blake Tomlinson, United States, 67-67-68-68—268
T6. Taylor Funk, United States, 69-71-69-60—269
T6. George Markham, United States, 71-67-68-63—269
T6. Genki Okada, Japan, 69-68-68-64—269
T6. Julian Etulain, Argentina, 69-69-66-65—269
T6. Davis Shore, United States, 66-67-69-67—269
T6. Brendan MacDougall, Canada, 71-64-67-67—269
T6. Hayden Springer, United States, 68-70-61-70—269

T34. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 73-66-66-70—275
MC. THOMAS LONGBELLA, UNIV. OF MINN., 72-69—141
MC. CALEB VANARRAGON (A), BLAINE, MINN., 70-71—141
MC. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, MINN., 76-69—145
MC. THOMAS AVANT, CHANDLER, ARIZ., 80-73—153
MC. GRANT SHAFRANSKI, NORTH OAKS GC, 78-77—155
MC. MATT BOLDY (A), MILFORD, MASS., 79-80—159

For complete tournament results go to: www.pgatour.com/canada/tournaments/2023/crmc-championship-presented-by-gertens/C2023053/leaderboard