Photo by: PGA TOUR
Men's Golf Alumnus Theegala Clinches Historic Win at QBE Shootout
12/16/2022 2:54:00 PM | Men's Golf
MALIBU, Calif. – Sahith Theegala, a 2020 alumnus of the Pepperdine men's golf team, made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the day to win the QBE Shootout in Naples, Fla. last weekend. Theegala, and his teammate Tom Hoge, were the second rookie team all-time, and first in the last 11 years, to have accomplished the feat.Â
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"It means a lot, especially to get a little taste of victory," said Theegala. Â "Winning is hard, so it feels incredible and also makes me so much hungrier to get an official, individual win.
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"It just shows that I'm on the right path. The main focus is to continue to get better, and the byproduct of that is hopefully better results. And that is what I'm going to keep focusing on."
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The pair closed with a 10-under 62 in four-ball. The QBE Shootout is a premier PGA TOUR postseason event, that entered its 34th year of existence in 2022.Â
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Theegala was coming off a strong PGA TOUR rookie season. He had reached the TOUR Championship and had chances to win on two occasions going into the final hole of tournaments.Â
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After earning his PGA TOUR card, he ranked top-30 (#28) in the 2021-22 FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points Lists, which lasts through 2023-24.
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Since September, Theegala worked for four top-six finishes. Along with the victory in Naples, he finished tied for second at the RSM Classic in November, finishing just two strokes behind the champion and co-leading the field in par-4 scoring average (3.77). He also tied for fifth at the ZOZO Championship in October and tied for sixth in the Fortinet Championship in September.
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"Sahith's first year on the PGA TOUR has been a blast to follow," said Pepperdine Men's Golf Head Coach Michael Beard. "Top 30 as a rookie is a huge accomplishment.  Since he was a junior golfer, he's figured out how to be the top at every level he's played in, so what he's done as a pro to this point falls in line with who he is as a golfer.  Even with his early success he's stayed humble and grateful and close to his family and friends.
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"We had the privilege of experiencing this same thing when he was at Pepperdine," said Beard. "A great amount of success with an unwavering strong character. I can't wait to cheer Sahith on in 2023!"
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While at Pepperdine, Theegala garnered Pepperdine's first-ever National Player of the Year accolade and third three-time All-American honoree. In his final season with the Waves, he won the Fred Haskins Award, Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus award, sweeping all major National Player of the Year honors.
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In four playing seasons over five years, he ended with the best scoring average (70.61) in Pepperdine history, also setting the Pepperdine career record for below-par rounds (74). He tied the records for wins (four) and top-20 finishes (36) and finished sixth in top-10 finishes with 19. He played in 46 career tournaments and 134 rounds, earning All-Region honors four times and All-WCC first team acclaim three times.
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"It means a lot, especially to get a little taste of victory," said Theegala. Â "Winning is hard, so it feels incredible and also makes me so much hungrier to get an official, individual win.
Â
"It just shows that I'm on the right path. The main focus is to continue to get better, and the byproduct of that is hopefully better results. And that is what I'm going to keep focusing on."
Â
The pair closed with a 10-under 62 in four-ball. The QBE Shootout is a premier PGA TOUR postseason event, that entered its 34th year of existence in 2022.Â
Â
Theegala was coming off a strong PGA TOUR rookie season. He had reached the TOUR Championship and had chances to win on two occasions going into the final hole of tournaments.Â
Â
After earning his PGA TOUR card, he ranked top-30 (#28) in the 2021-22 FedExCup Playoffs and Eligibility Points Lists, which lasts through 2023-24.
Â
Since September, Theegala worked for four top-six finishes. Along with the victory in Naples, he finished tied for second at the RSM Classic in November, finishing just two strokes behind the champion and co-leading the field in par-4 scoring average (3.77). He also tied for fifth at the ZOZO Championship in October and tied for sixth in the Fortinet Championship in September.
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"Sahith's first year on the PGA TOUR has been a blast to follow," said Pepperdine Men's Golf Head Coach Michael Beard. "Top 30 as a rookie is a huge accomplishment.  Since he was a junior golfer, he's figured out how to be the top at every level he's played in, so what he's done as a pro to this point falls in line with who he is as a golfer.  Even with his early success he's stayed humble and grateful and close to his family and friends.
Â
"We had the privilege of experiencing this same thing when he was at Pepperdine," said Beard. "A great amount of success with an unwavering strong character. I can't wait to cheer Sahith on in 2023!"
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While at Pepperdine, Theegala garnered Pepperdine's first-ever National Player of the Year accolade and third three-time All-American honoree. In his final season with the Waves, he won the Fred Haskins Award, Ben Hogan Award and Jack Nicklaus award, sweeping all major National Player of the Year honors.
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In four playing seasons over five years, he ended with the best scoring average (70.61) in Pepperdine history, also setting the Pepperdine career record for below-par rounds (74). He tied the records for wins (four) and top-20 finishes (36) and finished sixth in top-10 finishes with 19. He played in 46 career tournaments and 134 rounds, earning All-Region honors four times and All-WCC first team acclaim three times.
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