- February 13, 2025
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Tim Widing gives the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy a kiss. Widing won the tournament in a two-hole playoff against Patrick Cover and Steven Fisk.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing hugs his wife Jazmine Kelleher after winning the LECOM Suncoast Classic at 20 under par. Kelleher missed a flight for a work trip to San Francisco to see Widing win the tournament.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing wipes away tears after hugging his wife Jazmine Kelleher. Widing won the LECOM Suncoast Classic at 20 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing puts on the ceremonial "white jacket" after winning the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing said eating Indian food for dinner the night before the final day of the LECOM Suncoast Classic helped to relax him.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing holds up the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy. The win was Widing's first career victory after turning professional in 2021.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing begs for his birdie putt on the second playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic to veer to his right. Widing would miss the putt but make par to win the event.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing looks distraught after missing a birdie putt on the second playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Widing would make par to win the event.
Photo by Ryan KohnSteven Fisk watches his putt on the second playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic miss. Fisk finished tied for second place at 20 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnPatrick Cover stares down his putt on the first playoff hole of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic. Cover would miss the putt. He finished tied for second place at 20 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnSteven Fisk watches his second shot of the first playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Fisk would survive the hole, but finished in second place at 20 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing hits his second shot of the second playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Widing would win the event at 20 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnDanny Walker hits his tee shot on the No. 17 hole on the final day of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club. Walker, a Lakewood Ranch High alumnus, finished tied for 20th at 14 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnMiles Russell hits his tee shot on the No. 18 hole on the final day of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club. Russell, a 15-year-old junior golfer, finished tied for 20th at 14 under par.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing stares at his golf ball after missing a birdie putt on the second playoff hole of the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Widing would make par to win the event.
Photo by Ryan KohnGolf legend Paul Azinger was the emcee of the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy presentation.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing holds up the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy. Widing shot five under par Sunday and 20 under par for the tournament.
Photo by Ryan KohnTim Widing holds up the LECOM Suncoast Classic trophy. Widing shot five under par Sunday and 20 under par for the tournament.
Photo by Ryan KohnA nice Indian food dinner the night before, and a listen of the Swedish national hockey team’s intro music the morning of, was the mental reset Tim Widing needed to perform well on the final day of the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club.
Entering the final day of the Korn Ferry Tour event, Widing was 15 under par, good for a third-place tie alongside Kris Ventura. The pair was three shots back of leader Patrick Cover. In Widing’s mind, that’s exactly where he wanted to be.
“It's always a little easier coming from behind," Widing said. "You kind of get to play a little more aggressive."
Widing, 26, would back up his theory, coming from behind to win the Suncoast Classic in a two-hole playoff: on the first hole tying Steven Fisk and knocking out Cover, and on the second hole beating Fisk after making a par putt and forcing Fisk to make his, which Fisk could not.
The good night’s rest had Widing ready for Sunday. Widing sank six birdies and had a single bogey on his way to a five-under-par 66, putting him at 20 under par for the tournament. His last birdie came on hole No. 17, and it was a big one: As Cover and Fisk struggled down the stretch — each going one over par on the final three holes after entering them 21 under par — the birdie on No. 17 allowed Widing to get into the playoff with them.
"It (the playoff) was just kind of like before a tournament, just do a little bit of prep on the range, warm up and kind of get back to that focus," Widing said. "I just finished 15 minutes before that so it wasn't really hard transitioning to that. I was just happy I got a shot."
Widing showed little emotion after making his par putt on the second playoff hole, but after Fisk missed his par putt, Widing hugged his wife Jazmine Kelleher and shed a tear, which he quickly wiped with a finger. Kelleher was supposed to be on a 7:30 p.m. flight to San Francisco for a work trip, Widing said, but she decided to stay and watch him finish his win.
Seeing Kelleher tear up and run toward him, Widing said, was when the totality of the moment hit him. The Suncoast Classic victory is Widing’s first career win since turning professional in 2021. His previous best finish came at the Astara Golf Championship in February, where he finished tied for eighth (15 under par). Widing will take home $180,000 of the tournament's $1 million purse, and it positions him well in his quest for a PGA Tour card. Widing, who entered the week No. 23 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, is now projected to be No. 2, trailing only Fisk.
"I'm speechless," Widing said. "It's something I've practiced for every day, something you dream of. It's a relief to finally pull it off. You keep telling yourself that you're close, but winning golf tournaments is tough and I'm just so happy I was able to pull it off. This is incredible."