The two Yellowjackets started the day separated by a shot, with Kramer sitting at 10-under par after stellar rounds of 68 and 66. Luke Wells from Rutgers was also lurking at nine-under par.
To say that Kramer's play was steady over the three rounds would be an understatement. He made just two bogeys the entire tournament, and he started the final round with ten straight pars.
Snee Farm Country Club, which isn't too brawny according to the scorecard, put up a challenge in the final round. The tight fairways at the Mt. Pleasant, SC layout force players at the top of the leaderboard to be careful, but there's always the threat of a player breaking away from the chasing pack and making a bunch of birdies.
Wells was the player that came out of the gates the fastest, making birdies on the second and sixth holes to leapfrog Mao and Kramer into the lead at 11-under par. However, the golf course snapped back and Wells made a double-bogey six on the eighth hole. Another double bogey on the 14th hole put Wells off the pace. He finished with a 73 and in third place at eight-under par for the tournament.
The stage was set for the two Georgia Tech Yellowjackets to go head-to-head as they made the turn for home tied at 10-under par. Between Mao and Kramer, they made one birdie and 17 pars on the front nine in the final round. The lone birdie coming on the ninth hole for Mao.
Even as the pressure of competition built up, Kramer and Mao were consistent. Kramer followed a bogey on the 11th hole with birdies on at 12 and 13.
Mao and Kramer stood on the 13th tee box at 11-under par and tied for the lead. They would walk off the 18th hole also tied at 11-under par. Kramer polished off his round with five straight pars. Mao bounced back from a bogey on the 15th to birdie the par-5 16th.
It would only take one playoff hole for a new Rice Planters champion to be crowned. After Mao and Kramer both found the fairway on the 18th hole in the playoff, Mao left himself a long uphill putt. Kramer's approach, from just a few yards closer than Mao, left him 15 feet for a birdie.
After Mao lagged his lengthly putt to a few feet, Kramer sank a curling birdie putt for the win. The first pump as the ball tumbled into the hole was first class.
Over the 49 previous Rice Planters, the winners have combined for over 155 PGA Tour and Korn Ferry victories. And when names like Davis Love III, Stewart Cink, and Brooks Koepka are on your trophy, Rice Planters champions can claim seven professional major trophies, too. Toss in Allen Doyle’s four Champions Tour majors, and it becomes clear that the Rice Planters has identified some stellar golfers.
Now, Aidan Kramer has his name next to major champions after keeping his nerve down the stretch on a tricky golf course.
Like in many previous years, the Rice Planters delivered an exciting finish and a worthy winner.