JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 22: Sebastian Munoz of Colombia walks on the 18th hole during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on September 22, 2019, in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

By John Strege
Sebastian Munoz took a cue from friend Joaquin Niemann’s victory a week before and won the Sanderson Farms Championship. Unlike Niemann, however, Colombian Munoz had to sweat things out with a clutch putt at the end of regulation, then another in sudden death.

Munoz, 26, birdied the 18th hole at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., the toughest hole on the course, to advance to a playoff with reigning PGA Tour rookie of the year Sungjae Im, then defeated him on the first extra hole with a par save on the 18th hole.

“It wasn’t just a great day,” Munoz said. “Putts weren’t coming in. Me and my caddie just stayed confident, like it’s coming, it’s coming. And when it came, this place erupted and it was awesome. I’m speechless.

“Joaquin’s win definitely gave me the belief that I needed, the little extra belief that I’m good enough, that I’m here. It’s just crazy.”

Niemann, 21, a Chilean, had won the PGA Tour’s 2019-’20 season opener, A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier, for his first tour victory.

Munoz, who tied for the seventh at The Greenbrier, won his first title in his 47th PGA Tour start. He closed with a two-under-par 70 and a 72-hole score of 18-under-par 270.

Im finished with a six-under 66. But he played the 18th hole in the playoff poorly, starting with a tee shot in the left rough. Im pulled his second shot long and over the green, hit a pitch seven feet past the hole, then pulled his par-saving putt.

Munoz missed the green short with his second shot, but hit his pitch-and-run to four feet and holed the putt for the victory.