Filipino-Aussie golfer makes PGA history

Jason Day

Jason Day is the youngest player to win on any of the PGA Tour's three tournaments by topping the Legend Financial Group Classic of the Nationwide Tour.

The 19-year-old Filipino-Aussie scored his first victory as a pro in his rookie year when he won the Legends Financial Group Classic in Cleveland. He is two years younger than James Oh, the previous holder of the record.

The win worth $94,500 pushed Day to eighth on the Nationwide Tour's money list, giving him a good chance of obtaining his PGA Tour card automatically for 2008. The top 25 are assured of entry into the PGA Tour next season.

Day turned pro almost a year ago and immediately signed an endorsement deal with TaylorMade and Adidas. His Australian father passed away when he was a youngster and was taken care of by his Filipino mom Dening. He has two other siblings Yanna and Kim.

Playing on sponsors' exemption, Day made the cut in five of his first six PGA Tour events as a pro, with a best finish of 11th at the Reno-Tahoe Open. He tried but failed to earn his 2007 PGA Tour card but has full status on the Nationwide Tour for 2007.

As an amateur, Day accumulated a great deal of success in Australia, twice being awarded the Australian Junior Order of Merit. He finished seventh and was the leading amateur at the Queensland Open Championship. His amateur success extended to the United States, where he won the Boys 15-17 division at the 2004 Callaway World Junior Championship and was runner-up in the 2005 Porter Cup.