BROUSSARD, Louisiana – After four runner-up finishes, and after delaying a chance to earn a PGA TOUR card in order to represent China at the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition last year in Tokyo, Carl Yuan defeated Peter Uihlein on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff for a breakthrough victory at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS.

Yuan fired a 6-under 65, one of seven scores of 65 or better Sunday, and matched Uihlein at 14-under par for the week. Yuan birdied the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, hitting a wedge 12 feet past the hole and draining the putt. Uihlein hit a wedge 6 feet short of the hole but missed his playoff-extending birdie putt.

“I knew like I had to make mine,” Yuan said. “My coach and I worked on a couple things last two weeks just having the confidence over a putt. No matter a 3‑footer or a 40‑footer, I have the same confidence of making it. And I have practiced (a) putt like this hundreds of times when I practice. Definitely dream about having a putt to win a tournament like this, playoff or (on) No. 18.”

The victory also marked an early (or perfectly timed in his native China) birthday present, as Yuan turns 25 years old Monday.