Emerson Keith came through and took down OTB Open 2023 to earn his first Elite Series event win.
The leaderboard was in constant flux. Isaac Robinson led after the first round, followed by Aaron Gossage in the second, but it was Emerson Keith who ‘finally’ got his first Elite Series title.
Keith's record-setting 12-under round on day 2 propelled him 21 places up the leaderboard and secured him a spot on the lead card on Championship Sunday. Although Keith had come close to clinching his first Elite Series win before, he was now within one stroke Gossage with a chance to claim the title. While it takes skill to score well on Moving Day from a chase card, finding oneself within striking distance of the lead in the final round brings is a whole different game. Keith had ice in his veins “I kind of just blocked everything out during that round and just told myself, ‘Pretend I’m the only one standing on the course right now(…) Just execute like there’s no one here.”
Keith trailed Gossage by two strokes going into Hole 13. After Gossage stumbled with a double bogey, Keith seized the opportunity and scored a birdie to take the lead with only five holes left to play. Gossage could not regain his momentum and took another double bogey on Hole 17, effectively ending his bid for the win. However, Keith still had one surprise challenge from Gannon Buhr, who made a late push from the 5th card. In the end, Keith held on to the lead by hitting the narrow tee shot on hole 18 which secured him the par, enough to keep a red hot Gannon Buhr in 2nd place.