March is an odd month for both weather and professional golf. Some weeks are absolutely filled with a diverse offering of each, while others give us just a taste of interest. T.S. Eliot called April the cruelest month, so perhaps March was a bit generous in advance (at least for this week) as two first-time winners etched their names onto trophies.

Curious? Mash on!

PGA Tour: Hadwin claims first PGA Tour title at Valspar

Adam Hadwin made 422' 11" of putts this week.

Here's 53 feet of them.#ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/0BDTat1ACt

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 13, 2017

The Copperhead course at Innisbrook, a wee bit north of Tampa, has a singular ability to identify balanced champions. The 2017 edition of the Valspar promised nothing less. The 2016 feel-good story of the year, first-time winner Jim Herman, was in the mix, as was comeback kid Patrick Cantlay. Also seated near the front was another young player filled with promise, Adam Hadwin of Canada.

Hadwin and Cantlay had separated themselves from the chasers by a few shots midway through the inward nine. On the 15th Cantlay made bogey, extending Hadwin’s lead. The Canadian gave it all back one hole later, thoughr, scratching out a double bogey to drop into a tie at the top spot. Both Herman and 2016 Web.com Tour graduate Dominic Bozzelli remained within two, but neither could make any noise over the closing holes.

The tournament was decided at the uphill 18th. Hadwin reached the fringe and got down in two for par. Cantlay was bunkered and could not get up and down for a tying par. Hadwin finished 14-under par, one ahead of the 2011 U.S. Amateur runner-up. Tied for 3rd at 12-under were Herman and Bozzelli.

Related

• Hadwin’s Winning WITB
• Cantlay WITB 2017

European Tour: Hero Indian Open to Chowrasia, again!

Relentless.#HIO2017 pic.twitter.com/ZZuQQUcPE8

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 12, 2017

In 2016, SSP Chowrasia finally won his national open after four runner-up finishes. Perhaps a small dam burst for him at Delhi Golf Club last year, but the defending champion returned to the Indian Open and seized control once again. The end result was the same, with Chowrasia adding a second, bookend trophy to the one he raised one year ago.

The venue was different, as was the weather, and both impacted the performance of the field. Chowrasia played championship golf in all four rounds (72-67-68-71) while his pursuers rose and fell over the final 36 holes at the Gary Player-designed course. In the end it was SSP at 10-under, seven shots in front of Gavin Green of Malaysia, who came second alone. Matteo Manassero (Italy) and Scott Jamieson (Scotland) finished T3 at 2-under.

PGA Tour LA: Molino Cañuelas Championship to Matthews

Watch #CañuelasChamp Final Round Highlights #ZurichArgentinaSwing feat. tournament champ @B_Matthews12 at @CanuelasGolf #pgatourla pic.twitter.com/UMg5NRbpKj

— PGATOURLA (@PGATOUR_LA) March 13, 2017

Brandon Matthews of the U.S. established a nice cushion after three rounds of the PGA Tour LA’s stop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but winning rarely comes easily at the top levels of professional golf. Playing in front of a passionate, home-country crowd, Matias Simaski offered up inspired golf on Day 4 at the Cañuelas Golf Club and almost chased Matthews down.

On the outward half the leader posted two birdies, but he struggled to find his form after a double bogey-bogey run on Nos. 3 and 4. Meanwhile, Simaski clawed his way up the leaderboard, captivating the crowd with a 97-yard hole out for eagle at the 18th, catapulting him within one of the leader. He ultimately tied for second with the Jared Wolfe at 12-under.

Matthews played the inward nine in 1-under with eight pars and a birdie. That single shot under par was the difference maker, as the Pennsylvania native claimed his first professional victory after just five months in the paying ranks.