Full recap of the 2024 PGA Champions DICK’s Open

ENDICOTT (WBNG) -- The First Round of the DICK’s Open tournament kicked off in Endicott Friday morning after two days of Pro-Am Double Shotguns on Wednesday and Thursday.

The tourney began with Pennsylvania’s own Rocco Mediate tapping in a put to secure the third spot on the leaderboard at 6 under. Steve Allan sunk in a put on 18 to finish 7 under, which was good enough for second place after Day 1. However, it was Stephen Ames with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 to take a First Round lead at 8 under.

12 Sports spoke with Ames after his big Day 1.

“Tough to hit a lot of fairways on this golf course, they’re extremely narrow,” said Ames “But, I think the opportunities when I did hit the fairway, I made some birdies on it. Other than that, putted nicely and didn’t make any mistakes.”

The Second Round, which teed off Saturday morning, saw Ken Tanigawa burst onto the scene. Tanigawa drained his second eagle of the day that put him in a three-way tie for first place at 11 under. Padraig Harrington was a part of that tie for the lead after an under watched good Day 2, putting him in a solid position to three-peat.

The Final Round was setup with nine golfers within two strokes of each other on the leader board. Mark Hensby shot one of the best rounds of the day including a birdie put that saw him finish at 13 under. A put on 18 for Mike Weir would have given him a tie for first at 15 under if the ball rolled an inch to the right. However, Padraig Harrington tapped in a put on 18 to finish one stroke ahead of Weir to win the 2024 DICK’s Open.

12 Sports spoke with Harrington about winning his third straight tournament in Endicott.

“It’s very exciting,” said Harrington. “Coming into the week, people are saying, ‘Are you going to do a three-peat?’ It’s a lot easier to say than do it. So, I was trying to keep my expectations down even though I do like the golf course, and I know it suits me.”

Harrington became the first player to win the same PGA Tour Champions event in three consecutive seasons since 2014 DICK’s Open winner Bernhard Langer at the Kaulig Companies Championship from 2014-2016.