Navy Vet Wins First PGA Tour Title Months After Dad's Suicide

Josh Luckenbaugh | June 27, 2016
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Golfer and Navy veteran Billy Hurley III clinched a storybook victory Sunday, winning his first career PGA Tour tournament at the Quicken Loans National in Bethesda, Md., less than 50 miles west of the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Less than a year after his father tragically committed suicide, Hurley triumphantly raised the trophy at the Tiger Woods-hosted event, finishing on top by three strokes. 

"It's been a hard year," Hurley told ESPN. "It's been a really hard year, so it's nice to have something go well."

A 2004 graduate of the Naval Academy, the 34 year-old served as an officer until 2009. During that time, Hurley "was a lieutenant aboard a U.S Navy destroyer from 2007-09, serving in the Persian Gulf to protect Iraqi oil platforms," "spent time on the Red Sea and the South China Sea," was stationed "on the USS Chung-Hoon, a 10,000-ton guided-missile destroyer" as well as various ships in Florida and Hawaii, according to his PGA Tour profile

The Academy's vicinity to Congressional Country Club was a fact not lost on Hurley, a Leesburg, Va. native, who entered the tournament as No. 607 on the world golf rankings:

"Just being so close to home, close to the Academy, close to where I grew up, and then just being a part of the event on the PGA Tour that does the absolute most to honor our military here at Quicken Loans National...couldn't script a better one for me to win," Hurley said to reporters afterwards.

Hurley also took to Twitter after the momentous victory, showing his commitment and loyalty to his Navy roots:

The Navy veteran will hope to continue his recent success at The Open Championship in July, for which he qualified with his victory this weekend. Watch Hurley's incredible birdie on the 15th hole yesterday below: 

 

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