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HOUSTON - American golfer Nick Watney held off compatriot Ken Duke in a last-day duel to claim his maiden PGA Tour title by two shots at the New Orleans Classic in Avondale, Louisiana today.
Two strokes in front overnight, Watney recovered from a stumbling start to shoot a
three-under-par 69 in breezy conditions at the Tournament Players Club of Louisiana.
Spurred on by an eagle at the par-four fifth, the 25-year-old Californian finished on 15-under 273, ahead of playing partner Duke, who bogeyed the last for a 70.
PGA Tour rookie Anthony Kim fired the best round of the day, a nine-birdie 65 lifting him into a tie for third place with fellow-American John Mallinger (67) at 11-under.
The tournament, which became a two-horse race in the final round, was effectively decided at the par-three 14th where Watney broke the deadlock by rolling in an eight-foot birdie putt.
Duke, who missed the green to the left off the tee, failed to get up and down to save par and dropped two shots behind.
Both players parred the next three holes to give Watney a comfortable cushion playing the par-five last.
Although he narrowly missed a birdie putt there from eight feet, his victory margin became three when Duke bogeyed after finding a pot bunker behind the green with his third shot.
For the first 13 holes, Watney and Duke tussled for control at the top of the leaderboard.
Overnight pacesetter Watney, regarded by his peers as one of the best ball-strikers on the PGA Tour, spectacularly recovered after bogeying the third and fourth.
He holed out with a pitching wedge from 133 yards to eagle the fifth and picked up further shots at the seventh and eighth to reach the turn in two-under 34.
Duke, who briefly led by two after Watney's early stumble, stayed level with him following birdies at the second, third, seventh and eighth.
Despite blustery conditions and some difficult pin positions at the Tournament Players Club, the pair broke three strokes clear of the chasing pack with nine holes to play.
Although Watney faltered with a three-putt bogey at the 10th, he regained a share of the lead with a birdie at the par-five 11th, where Duke missed his own attempt from nine feet.
Three holes later, the title was all but decided.
PGA Tour veteran Mark Calcavecchia closed with a 71 to share fifth place at 10-under with fellow-Americans Bubba Watson and rookie Chris Stroud, who returned matching 69s.
Germany's Alex Cejka, boosted by three birdies in a row from the 10th, finished a further stroke back in a three-way tie for eighth after carding a 68.
- REUTERS
