Reavie wins Travelers Championship; tournament raises $2M for charity

Photo | Travelers Championship via Twitter Chez Reavie, 37, won the 2019 Travelers Championship on Sunday after shooting 17 under during the four-day tournament at Cromwell’s TPC River Highlands.

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By Joe Cooper

Chez Reavie held onto a six-stroke lead on Sunday to capture the 2019 Travelers Championship title, his first PGA Tour win in 11 years.

The 37-year-old Kansas native earned the $1.26 million first-place prize after shooting a 1-under 69 on Sunday for a four-stroke win over Zach Sucher and Keegan Bradley (13 under) at the four-day tournament at Cromwell’s TPC River Highlands.

Other top finishers were Vaughn Taylor (12 under), and Paul Casey, Joaquin Niemann and Kevin Tway tied in fifth place at 11 under. Defending champion Bubba Watson finished tied in 54th place at 1 under.

The total purse for the tournament was $7.2 million.

Reavie, who jumped to No. 26 in the world golf rankings after Sunday’s victory, praised the tournament for its course layout and fan support.

“...I've always loved the [course] layout since the first time I came here,” Reavie said following his first win since 2008. “Everyone at Travelers, I mean, they just make it such a fun, special week for the players and their families. It's a company that I like to support, and I feel privileged to come here and play in their tournament.”

For the second consecutive year, officials said the tournament, which contributes all proceeds to charity, generated approximately $2 million for over 150 charitable organizations, including the tournament’s primary beneficiary, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford.

Travelers Cos. said it’s contributed almost $20 million to more than 750 local charities since it became the tournament’s title sponsor in 2007.

The tournament, which generates a roughly $68 million economic impact annually for the state, doesn’t release attendance numbers, but organizers said ticket sales this year exceeded last year’s total. Several media outlets estimate the tournament annually draws a few hundred thousand spectators.

This year’s event showcased TPC River Highlands’ new $20 million, 40,000-square-foot clubhouse that debuted last month. It houses a ballroom, post-round lounge areas, a family area, private meeting space, locker rooms and dining areas, among other amenities.

The private club began demolishing and replacing its former 10,000-square-foot clubhouse in July 2018, shortly after Watson earned his third Travelers Championship title.

The swanky clubhouse is meant to add to the player experience for the Travelers Championship, which for the last two years has received the “Players Choice” award from the PGA Tour based on tournament services, attendance, hospitality, player and family amenities, and golf course conditions.