SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Texarkana’s Zack Fischer didn’t win the 2019 Valero Texas Open, but for a few brief moments he felt like he had.
The 29-year-old Fischer has been on a roller coaster ride during his professional golf career, which climbed to a new height Sunday at TPC San Antonio. The former Texas High golfer posted a 6-under-par 66 in the final round, earning him a tie for 14th place and a $135,000 payday. He finished at 11-under-par 277.
“I wanted to get a top ten so I could get in the next event that was possible,” said Fischer. “I look at a leaderboard at my final hole (No. 9). I was in ninth place at the time, and was looking at a 25-foot birdie putt that I figured would get me a top 10. Unfortunately, I missed it.”
Fischer was deadly off the tee
Fischer didn’t miss many putts Sunday, and his play off the tee was near-perfect. He found the fairway on 12 of 14 tee shots. That ranked him seventh in strokes gained off the tee for the week.
His final round was delayed two hours by rain, but he got off to a spectacular start at the tenth hole. His second shot flew the green, but he pitched in for a birdie.
Fischer made the turn at 2-under, and he quickly made up three more shots with birdie at 10, followed by an eagle at the 602-yard, par-5 second hole.
“We hit into the wind the first three days at the second hole, but it was downwind today,” Fischer said. “I’m no Roy McIllroy or Dustin Johnson, but my drive landed next to a bunker that was 330 yards away. I hit a 3-iron 264 yards to the green, but didn’t know for sure where it stopped until I got to the green.”
The round could have been better if not for bogeys at 16 and 6.
While ecstatic over his finish, Fischer said he might have finished even higher if not for his iron play.
“I’m taking next week off, hoping to get my iron-game in shape,” he said. “It was the only thing I didn’t do super well this week.”
Fischer planning visit with mentor
That means Fischer will be visiting his mentor Geoff Jones.
“It’s a great feeling knowing all the hard work Geoff and I have put into it is now paying off,” Fischer said. “I couldn’t have done any of this without Geoff. It has been a blessing having him in my life.”
Sunday’s putting performance was proof that his hard work was helping.
He made everything that was within 10 feet of the hole.
Fischer is hoping his 14th place finish will earn him some sponsor exemptions on the Web.com Tour. If not, he’ll try to repeat last Monday’s effort when he shot a 65 to qualify for the Valero Texas Open.
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