Ryan Gerard secured his first PGA Tour title on Sunday by winning the 2025 Barracuda Championship at the Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California. The 25-year-old American delivered a strong final round performance to finish with 47 points in the tournament’s unique scoring format, beating Erik van Rooyen by three points.
Gerard Delighted With First Ever PGA Tour Win
Gerard made two key surges during the final round as he scored a birdie and an eagle early on the 2nd and 3rd holes. He repeated the feat with another birdie-eagle combo later on the 10th and 11th holes. Even though he made five bogeys during the round, these strong stretches helped him build a lead. Gerard’s final tally of 47 points was enough to edge past South Africa’s van Rooyen, who won the same event in 2021. Todd Clements of England finished third with 39 points.
“Been playing a lot of really good golf,” Gerard said after the win. “Felt like I haven’t been quite getting the scores out of the shots that I’ve hit. It’s been a long time being a long grind, and it’s pretty cool to end up on top. It’s just like a culmination of a lifetime of work. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent hitting golf balls dreaming of winning on the PGA TOUR. Yeah, it’s really special.”
This was Gerard’s only 47th PGA Tour start, and now he joins the long list of official Tour winners, he is the 999th player to earn a PGA Tour title after coming fifth in the same championship two years.The victory also earns him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, 300 FedExCup points, and a spot in the 2026 PGA Championship.
Gerard On The Right Path After Thrilling Victory
Gerard’s win doesn’t guarantee him a place in next year’s Masters, meaning he will still need to qualify separately for that major. Along with the title, Gerard takes home approximately $720,000 in prize money. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Gerard played college golf at the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 2022. He had already shown promise, with wins on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Canada. His victory at the 2024 BMW Charity Pro-Am gave him momentum, but this win on the PGA Tour puts him on a different level.
The Barracuda Championship uses a modified Stableford scoring system instead of traditional stroke play. Players earn points for birdies and eagles and lose points for bogeys and worse. The championship is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, giving Gerard valuable ranking points in both systems. His win also means more playing opportunities in upcoming events, more exposure, and a stronger position heading into the end of the season.
Main Photo Credit: © Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
