Turnberry Showdown: Spence Survives Another Rain‑Soaked Major to Capture His First DGA Tour Title

The 2025 DGA Tour season has been a lesson in perseverance. Rain has trailed this league like a stray dog—Turnberry was the seventh event out of eight to be interrupted by a downpour—and players have learned to adjust on the fly. The final major of the year, the Turnberry Showdown, was supposed to be the calm after the storm. Instead, it delivered another weather twist, moments of brilliance and heartbreak, and a first‑time major champion in Jack Spence.

A Tale of Two Waves

One of the quirks of this year’s weather is timing. The first group to tee off—Trevor Monk, Harry Gilmore, Seth Paszke and Auston Sorg—played through the front nine in dry conditions. Monk made the most of it. A triple bogey on the par‑4 fourth and a double on the par‑3 16th were his only blemishes on the way to a 40 out and a 42 back for an 82, the second‑best gross score of the day. He made 11 pars and a birdie on the par‑4 ninth, proving again that his ball‑striking travels. Gilmore double‑bogeyed his opening two holes while briefly experimenting with wearing shoes—something he never does—then went barefoot the rest of the way, rolled in seven pars and carded a respectable 89 despite a quadruple eight on the par‑4 14th. Paszke enjoyed a breakthrough with the putter: his season‑low 36 putts were the highlight of a round that included doubles on 4, 5 and 7, but he still tied for fifth on net. Sorg’s front nine was equal parts brilliance and trouble—a birdie at the par‑3 third, a triple at the par‑5 fifth, doubles at 7 and 8—yet he showed resilience by birdieing 15 and 16 despite snapping an iron on the back nine. His 84 (+12 gross) underscored how dangerous he is when he finds rhythm and why those few blow‑up holes kept him off the podium.

The second wave—Dylan Sharp, Kyler Messner, Ryan Arter, Mike McGuire, Spence, Gianni Young, Will Eyman and Shea McGuire—wasn’t so fortunate. As they stood on the fourth tee, a sudden cloudburst soaked the course. Play stopped for 10 minutes, long enough for jokes about “of course it rained” to circulate. When they resumed, the conditions were soft and unpredictable. Sharp took 46 strokes on the front nine, with doubles on 8 and 9, but later parred three of his last seven holes to finish tied for third on net. Arter birdied the first two holes and the ninth before recording bogeys or doubles on nine of the next ten holes and a triple on the par‑3 16th, still fighting his way to an 89. Messner quietly turned in ten pars over 18 holes; his double on 2 and a triple on 18 were the difference between ninth and a potential top five. Young fought through a series of doubles but persevered for a 90. McGuire’s round included triples at 2 and 6, yet he finished strong with pars on 8, 9, 10 and 18. Spence navigated the rain delay better than most—his outward 39 included six pars and three bogeys, even with the weather disruption—and Eyman stayed within striking distance at 44 despite a triple on the ninth. Shea McGuire carded five bogeys and four pars for 41, setting himself up for the closing stretch.

How the Round Unfolded

The back nine turned into a game of who could minimize mistakes and capitalize on opportunities. Spence bogeyed 10 and 11, doubled the long par‑3 13th, then parred 12, 14 and 16 to stay in touch with the leaders. Monk’s back nine included just one double—on 16—before he closed with a well‑earned 82. Sorg hit two pinpoint approaches on 15 and 16 for birdies, but his earlier triple and doubles kept him at +6 net. Paszke’s improved putting continued to shine, helping him save pars on 12 and 14 and record his best finish of the season. Gilmore’s highlight reel included three straight pars on the back (15–17), but that big number on 14 ultimately separated him from the leaders.

Eyman quietly constructed a solid scorecard. Over the first 17 holes he mixed nine pars with eight bogeys—never a birdie but never worse than bogey, apart from that triple on 9—and stood on the 18th tee with a one‑shot net lead. Messner looked ready to pounce; he parred nine of his first 15 holes and was net +4 entering the final hole. Sharp, despite his early doubles, battled his way back with pars on 12, 13 and 18, though a triple at the 14th and a double at 17 kept him from pulling clear. Arter’s three birdies and string of early pars kept him in the hunt until fatigue led to a few mis‑hits down the stretch. Young and McGuire kept fighting; their rounds remind us that each player is building the foundation for future weeks.

The Decisive Closing Hole

As the leaders stepped to the par‑5 18th, it was a four‑horse race. Eyman, at net +3, needed a bogey to secure his first major. Shea McGuire and Sharp sat at +4, and Spence trailed at +5. Shea’s only misstep of the day turned out to be his double bogey on the last, dropping him to sixth. Sharp played the hole conservatively for par to post +4. Spence, knowing nothing less than a birdie would give him a chance, rifled his second shot onto the green and poured in a six‑foot putt—his second birdie of the day—to join Sharp. Eyman clipped his third shot shorter than planned, left his chip long and three‑putted from the fringe for double. Just like that, the net lead evaporated into a three‑way tie.

Tiebreak Drama and Eyman’s Near‑Miss

DGA Tour rules break ties by looking at scores on the most difficult handicapped holes. Spence’s card—two birdies, nine pars, six bogeys and a single double—won the day. It was his second win of the year and his first major. Sharp finished third. Monk’s +5 gave him and Paszke a tie for fourth; Shea McGuire and Sorg shared sixth; Arter, Messner, Gilmore, Young and Mike McGuire filled out the leaderboard.

Eyman’s season has been defined by near‑misses and unwavering consistency. Earlier in the year he tied for first at the Westchester Wildcard and graciously ceded the trophy to Kyler Messner as a show of sportsmanship. Turnberry was his second major where he finished level at the top, underscoring that a DGA major title is just a swing away for one of the Tour’s most persistent contenders. While the double bogey on 18 hurt, his string of nine pars and eight bogeys showed just how steady he was under pressure. Everyone in the league knows his first trophy is coming.

A Season of Resilience

With the Denison Cup Playoff and the DGA Tour Championship looming, the Turnberry Showdown stood as a fitting cap for the final major of the season. Spence walked away with the trophy and control of the points race. Monk reaffirmed that he is one of the most reliable players, even when a single hole gets away. Paszke’s best putting day of the season translated into his best finish. Sorg, broken club and all, showed he can put circles on the card. Gilmore, Messner and Sharp all battled through adversity and stayed in the conversation. Arter, Young and Mike McGuire remind us that every hole played now is a chance to learn and build toward something better.

Turnberry reinforced what every DGA Tour player has learned in 2025: weather may be unpredictable and bad breaks will happen, but heart, adaptability and a little luck remain the common denominator of success. As the playoffs approach, the field knows that perseverance pays—and that every stroke, even on the final green, matters.

The Turnberry Showdown is sponsored by Donatos. The DGA Tour is proudly presented by Haywood Golf.