Nick Watney won the Zurich Classic for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday for a three-stroke win over Ken Duke in Avondale, La.
Watney, a 25-year-old Californian in his third year on the tour, had a 15-under 273 total at the TPC Louisiana. Duke, who also was seeking his first victory, shot a 70.
“I’m living a dream right now,” Watney said, wearing Mardi Gras beads, as winners in New Orleans traditionally do. “I’ve played in close to the last group sometimes, and I’ve seen guys go through it. But it’s definitely more fun to actually do it.”
Watney, fifth in two tournaments last year, lost the lead when he missed a 3-foot par putt on the par-4 10th. He bounced back with a birdie on the par-5 11th and went in front for good with a birdie on the par-3 14th.
On the 14th, Duke’s tee shot landed short and left of the green, his chip went 7 feet past the pin and he missed the par putt coming back to fall two shots behind.
Watney parred the final four holes, missing the fairway only once off the tee and hitting every green in regulation.
Tour rookie Anthony Kim, 21, had the best round of the day, a 65 – one shot off the course record that fellow rookie Kyle Reifers set Thursday. the 21-year-old tied for third with John Mallinger at 11-under.
Nationwide Tour: Colorado State alumnus Martin Laird won his first Nationwide Tour title, birdieing the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Justin Bolli and Jeremy Anderson in the Athens Regional Foundation Classic in Bogart, Ga.
Laird, 24, from Scotland, completed the wire-to-wire win with a 3-under 69 for a 16-under 272 total.
Champions Tour: Jay Haas successfully defended his Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf title, making up four shots in the final eight holes before beating Tom Kite in a playoff in Savannah, Ga., for his second Champions Tour victory this season.
Haas closed with a 2-under 70 for a 9-under 207 total, then won on the first extra hole for his eighth senior circuit victory. Kite (68) had been 3-0 in senior playoffs.
European PGA: France’s Raphael Jacquelin won the BMW Asian Open for his second European Tour victory, leading from start to finish for a two-stroke victory over Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen in Shanghai, China.
