Maxwell Moldovan wins 70th ECP Brazil Open for first TOUR-sanctioned win

RIO DE JANEIRO – Maxwell Moldovan claimed his first career victory as a professional on Sunday at the 70th ECP Brazil Open at the Rio Olympic Golf Course. With the win, Moldovan secures exempt status on PGA TOUR Americas through the 2026 Latin America Swing and moves up to the No. 2 spot in the 2025 Fortinet Cup.

Moldovan entered the final round two strokes back of the lead but was able to gain ground with three birdies on the back nine as he approached No. 18, a 587-yard par 5. After hitting the fairway on his drive, Moldovan found the green on his second shot but was left with a 50-foot putt for eagle. Moldovan proceeded to drain his putt to secure a one-stroke victory.

“I don't really know what to feel or how to feel, I'm just so thankful,” Moldovan said after his victory. “It's been a really hard first year as a pro. A few months ago I didn't really know if a day like today was going to ever happen. There's so much uncertainty in the professional game… I was going to be happy that I got back in contention and saw so many good things in my game. I couldn't be more thankful that it turned out the way it did.”

Moldovan earned exempt status for the 2024 North America Swing after finishing as the No. 20 player in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024. After spending four years at Ohio State University (2020-2024), Moldovan struggled in his first summer as a professional. In nine starts on PGA TOUR Americas in 2024, Moldovan missed eight cuts and finished 155th in the Fortinet Cup. With his win, Moldovan solidifies his schedule into 2026.

Moldovan is the third PGA TOUR University alum from the class of 2024 to win a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event and joins Ryan Blaum (2013) and Shad Tuten (2019) as the only Americans to win the ECP Brazil Open since it became a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.

Moldovan is expected to be in the field at the KIA Open, the third event of the Latin America Swing, which will be hosted at the Quito Tenis & Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador, from April 24-27.

Charting the champion

About Maxwell Moldovan (first/18-under) 

• First career victory comes in his 11th professional start at the age of 23 years, 1 month, 15 days
• Secures exempt membership on PGA TOUR Americas through the 2026 Latin America Swing
• Finished as the No. 20 player in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024; PGA TOUR University alumni have now accounted for 35 PGA TOUR-sanctioned victories
• Becomes the first Ohio State alum to win a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event since Bo Hoag’s win at the 2019 WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019
• Named to the All-Big Ten team four times, including first-team selections in 2021-22 and 2022-23
• Won four collegiate tournaments during his time at Ohio State, including three in his sophomore season (2021-22)
• Earned AJGA Player of the Year honors in 2019, becoming the first male from the Midwest to earn the award
• Won the 2019 Ohio Amateur Championship; notable past champions include Austin Greaser (2020) and Arnold Palmer (1953, 1954)
• Qualified for the 2015 Drive, Chip & Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club
• Family includes his wife Emily

Competition notes 

Course setup: Par 71/7,163 yards; final-round average: 70.52
Weather: Cloudy with a high of 75; wind from the northwest between 2-11 mph with gusts up to 13 mph.

• Two countries are represented in the top five and ties: the United States (six) and Canada (one).
• Maxwell Moldovan, who was the co-leader after the first round, secured his first career win as a professional.
• Colombia’s Ricardo Celia (T10/12-under) finished as the low-Latin through after carding an even-par 71 in the final round.
• In his third PGA TOUR-sanctioned start of 2025 and first career PGA TOUR Americas start, Brazil native Fred Biondi finished T45.
• Toronto, Ontario, native Drew Nesbitt (T4/15-under) finished as the low Canadian through 54 holes; Joey Savoie (T10/12-under) joined Nesbitt in the top 10 and ties.
• Third-round leader Chris Francoeur finished third after a 1-over 72 in the final round.
• Michael Brennan finished T4 (15-under) and has now finished in the top five in his last three starts on PGA TOUR Americas (T4, 70th ECP Brazil Open/T3, 93 Abierto Telecom del Centro presentado por Zurich/T3, 2024 Fortinet Cup Championship).
• 72 players from 10 countries made the cut at 4 under at the 70th ECP Brazil Open.
• Hole No. 4, the 192-yard par 3, played as the toughest hole on the course in the final round, playing +0.53 0 strokes over par.