Derek Ernst, amateurgolf.com alum, wins first PGA Tour title

May 5, 2013 | by Benjamin Larsen of AmateurGolf.com

Ernst, who earned his PGA Tour card at Q-School last year, won his first tour event at Quail Hollow

At this time last year, Derek Ernst was a member of the golf team at UNLV. Five months ago, the Clovis, Calif. native was earning his PGA Tour card in dramatic fashion at Q-School. And Sunday, Ernst won for the first time on tour, storming from behind to win the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. Ernst, a longtime member of amteurgolf.com and competitor in the amateurgolf.com Tour, carded a final-round 2-under 70 and then defeated David Lynn in a playoff for his first victory on tour. The win came against a loaded field and packed leaderboard, which included names like Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia. Prior to turning professional, Ernst reached the semifinal round of last year's U.S. Public-Links and made match play at the U.S. Amateur. In 2011, he reached the semifinals of the Pub-Links while also turning in solid finishes at the Western Amateur, Sahalee Players and Dixie Amateur. This year on the PGA Tour, Ernst has played in nine events but only making the cut twice before this weekend. His best finish prior to the win was last weekend's 47th-place finish at the Zurich Classic. The Wells Fargo Championship victory nets the rookie $1,206,000.

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