Drew Zielinski is headed to the PGA Tour after a clutch performance at the Golfweek Fripp Island to Bermuda Invitational.
The Lee University senior birdied his final three holes to card a 6-under 66, beating teammate and roommate Bennett McNabb by two shots. The victory comes with a groundbreaking reward – a sponsor exemption into the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Nov. 13-16 at Port Royal Golf Club.
It’s the first time a Division-II tournament winner has received a PGA Tour exemption, making Zielinski’s victory truly historic.
“I’m just going to soak in this moment and look forward to what’s coming up next,” Zielinski told Golfweek afterward. “It was on my mind all day today, and I was just trying to focus on where I was currently, like where I was walking, just staying right here in the present. This opportunity was just unbelievable.”
Zielinski’s path to this breakthrough hasn’t been straightforward. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before transferring to Lee University last year, where he quickly made his mark as an All-America honorable mention.
The victory wasn’t just an individual triumph. Lee University dominated the team competition, finishing 18 shots ahead of Georgia Southwestern to claim the team title.
Now Zielinski faces the biggest opportunity of his young career – testing his game against the world’s best in Bermuda. For a Division-II player, it’s a rare chance to compete on golf’s biggest stage while still in college.
