March 20, 2011

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Former Kansas golfer Gary Woodland posted his first PGA Tour victory when he claimed the Transitions Championship at the Innisbrook Resort Sunday.   Woodland fired a final-round 67 for a four-round total of 269 to edge Webb Simpson by one shot.  Simpson shot 69 on the final day.

The Topeka native and former Jayhawk moved into third place in the FedExCup standings and the victory gives him a two-year TOUR exemption.  He will also get one of the final spots in the Masters, as well as a spot in the THE PLAYERS Championship in May.

Woodland shot 67 in three of the rounds with a 68 on the second day. Woodland made three straight birdies on holes 12-14 to get to five-under for the day Sunday.   However, he bogeyed back-to-back holes before carding another birdie on the 17^th hole.