Thomas Longbella wins KIA Open after final round canceled due to weather

QUITO, Ecuador – Due to unplayable course conditions, the KIA Open has been shortened to 54 holes and third-round leader Thomas Longbella is the tournament winner, the PGA TOUR Americas Rules Committee announced Sunday.

Although heavy overnight rains continued into the morning, Sunday’s final round began as scheduled at 6:27 a.m. CT with the first four groups starting as scheduled. With the fifth group of the morning on the first tee, play was suspended at 7:15 a.m. CT.

“We are extremely grateful towards Quito Tenis y Golf Club’s maintenance staff in providing an exceptional golf course to host this year’s KIA Open," said John Slater, PGA TOUR Americas Chief Referee. "They did an incredible job getting the course prepared for the final round after heavy rain overnight. Although the course was playable this morning and allowed us to begin as scheduled, the rains worsened and ultimately led us to suspend play at 7:15 a.m. We were unable to send players back out due to unplayable course conditions."

In accordance with PGA TOUR Americas Regulations, the tournament results are final through the conclusion of 54 holes. The tournament is considered official and Fortinet Cup points will be awarded.

Longbella eagled the 17th hole Saturday to move to 16-under and take a one-stroke lead over Gunn Yang, which proved to be the final margin of victory. With the win, the 26-year-old moves to No. 4 in the Fortinet Cup going into the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship (May 16-19), the sixth and final event of the Latin America Swing.

Longbella claimed his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned victory at the KIA Open and carded a 7-under 65 in what turned out to be Saturday’s final round. His lowest score of the season was enough to take the lead by one over second-round leader Gunn Yang. Over 54 holes, Longbella consistently worked his way up the leaderboard. A bogey-free 6-under 66 in the first round started the 26-year-old tied for fourth and two strokes back from the lead. He followed that performance with a second-round 3-under 69 and moved into a tie for second. With an eagle on the 17th hole on Saturday, Longbella unknowingly secured his victory.

"Obviously at the time I just thought it [No. 17] was a great hole and got me into a good position," said Longbella. "I didn't really think it was going to be the moment that I actually got the lead and it ended up making me the champion... I'm super excited for the rest of the season, going up to Canada. I played the last couple years up in Canada, so I feel like I have some good experience there. Yeah, yeah, in a great spot for the rest of the year."

In his third season as a professional, Longbella’s career now consists of 12 top 25s, including four top 10s which is highlighted by his win at the 2024 KIA Open. Previously, Longbella’s best finish was third place at the Osprey Valley Open on PGA TOUR Canada in 2022. His 33rd place finish on the 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Fortinet Cup points list earned him membership into the inaugural season of PGA TOUR Americas. Two top 25s this season paired with this week’s win put Longbella at 4th in the Fortinet Cup standings.

The University of Minnesota alum competed for five seasons on the men’s golf team after the spring of his senior season was cancelled due to COVID-19. Longbella finished his last spring season as second on the team with a 74.87 scoring average and accrued four different recognitions in his collegiate career: Big Ten Golfer of the Week/Month (2016), Academic All-Big Ten (2018, 2019, 2021), Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar (2019) and the Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar (2020, 2021).

Longbella is expected to be in the field at the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship, the final event of the Latin America Swing, which will be hosted at Club El Rincón de Cajicá from May 16-19 in Bogotá, Colombia.

About Thomas Longbella (1/-16)

Age: 26

Birthplace: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Residence: Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

College: University of Minnesota

Fortinet Cup: 4th

• With the win, becomes an exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the remainder of the 2024 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2025; earned 500 points and is No. 4 in the Fortinet Cup
• Earned membership into the inaugural season of PGA TOUR Americas via a 33rd place finish on the 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Fortinet Cup points list
• Graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2021 with a degree in Business and Marketing Education
• Monday Qualified for the Corales Puntacana Championship on the PGA TOUR in back-to-back years (2023/MC, 2024/MC)
• Has made two Korn Ferry Tour starts in 2024 at the 117 Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro (MC) and the Astara Chile Classic presented by Scotiabank (MC)
• Won the 119th Wisconsin State Amateur Championship by a 10-stroke margin, one shot off the tournament record
• In his junior career, he won the WSGA Junior Boys Championship, the 2014 Wisconsin PGA Junior Championship and placed first in three straight age-level state junior championships from 2012 to 2014
• Enjoys fishing

Competition Notes

Course Setup: Par 72 / 7,412 yards; Cumulative average: 71.110

• The KIA Open was shortened to 54 holes due to unplayable course conditions on Sunday
• Longbella claimed his first career PGA TOUR-sanctioned victory
• Shad Tuten shot the lowest final round, carding an 8-under 64 (T6/-12)
• Four Argentinians finished inside the top 10 and ties: Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (T8/-11), Jaime Lopez Rivarola (T10/-10), Martin Contini (T10/-10) and Mauro Baez (T10/-10)
• Joey Savoie finished T19 at 8-under par and led six Canadians who made the cut
• Diego Vanegas of Colombia (T32/-6) recorded a 2 at the par 5 No. 3 in Friday’s second round; it was the third albatross of the PGA TOUR Americas season
• Ecuador native Felipe Garcés became the first amateur to make a cut this season (T27/-7)
• Four Monday qualifiers made the cut: Mauro Baez (T10/-10), Martin Contini (T10/-10), Diego Vanegas (T32/-6) and Austen Christiansen (T73/+3)
• Quito Tenis y Golf Club played .890 strokes under par through the tournament; the hardest hole on the golf course was No. 6 – the 220-yard par 3 which averaged a +0.230