Chiarella

The Maui News

Maui’s Alex Chiarella recorded his fourth top-15 finish this year on Sunday, tying for 15th place in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Orange County National Championship in Winter Garden, Fla.

Chiarella entered the final round in a tie for fifth place, four shots off the lead, but fell back early on. The 26-year-old Seabury Hall graduate bogeyed three of his first seven holes at Orange County National before settling down for a 1-over 72 to finish with eight others at 16-under 268.

Trey Mullinax shot 69 to win the tournament at 23-under 261, one shot ahead of Brandon Wu (65).

During this coronavirus-altered season, Chiarella now has five top-20 finishes while making seven cuts as he tries to gain momentum going into next year, when PGA Tour cards will be up for grabs for top Korn Ferry players.

Since a fourth-place finish at the Evans Scholars Invitational — his best finish yet on the Korn Ferry Tour — last month, Chiarella missed the cut at the Wichita Open and tied for 59th at the Savannah Golf Championship before Sunday’s result.