May 27, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24,1424

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FORT WORTH (Texas), May 26: Kenny Perry picked up his fifth PGA Tour title when a closing two-under-par 68 helped him cruise to a six-shot victory at the $5 million Colonial tournament on Sunday.

The 42-year-old American posted a competition record 19-under-par aggregate of 261 after starting the final round with a massive eight-stroke lead following his 61 on Saturday.

Justin Leonard flirted with a 59 before a bogey at the 18th tied the course record of 61 jointly held by Perry, Greg Kraft (1999), Keith Clearwater (1993) and Lee Janzen (1993). The 1997 British Open champion was second on 267.

Jeff Sluman (65) was on 268, 12-under, followed by Brandt Jobe (64) on 269. Pat Bates (66), 2004 Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton (67), South African Rory Sabbatini (69) and Jim Furyk (68) were all on 270.

Perry, who last won on the tour in 2001, birdied the par-five first hole and then strung together 10 straight pars before picking up more shots at the 12th and 13th. His only bogey came at the par-three 16th, his first in 58 holes.

Perry collected the biggest pay cheque of his career — $900,000.

In an event featuring the world’s leading female golfer Annika Sorenstam, who missed the cut, Leonard added to the excitement by threatening to join the ‘59 club’.

Al Geiberger (1977), Chip Beck (1991) and David Duval (1999) on the PGA Tour and only Sorenstam on the LPGA Tour had previously shot 59.

Leonard went out in a six-under 29 at the Colonial Country Club before playing the back nine in three-under.

The 30-year-old American birdied the 17th to reach 10-under for his round but missed the green at the par-four 18th, chipped seven feet beyond the hole and failed to sink his par attempt.

Leading final round scores (US unless stated):

261 — Kenny Perry 68, 64, 61, 68.

267 — Justin Leonard 68, 72, 66, 61.

268 — Jeff Sluman 68, 68, 67, 65.

269 — Brandt Jobe 67, 70, 68, 64.

270 — Pat Bates 69, 66, 69, 66; Hal Sutton 71, 67, 65, 67; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 64, 70, 67, 69; Jim Furyk 68, 65, 69, 68.

272 — Fred Funk 70, 67, 69, 66; Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 68, 68, 69 67; Dan Forsman 66, 66, 73, 67; Harrison Frazar 69, 69, 66, 68.

273 — Marco Dawson 68, 70, 71, 64; Loren Roberts 67, 69, 70, 67; Phil Mickelson 67, 70, 68, 68; Steve Flesch 69, 66, 69, 69; Stewart Cink 67, 70, 66, 70.

274 — Lee Janzen 71, 67, 70, 66; Jay Haas 69, 70, 67, 68; Olin Browne 67, 71, 68, 68.

Other international players:

275 — John Senden (Australia) 71, 70, 68, 66; Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 70, 70, 65, 70.

276 — Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 70, 68, 70, 68; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 71, 69, 68, 68.

277 — Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 66, 68, 73, 70; Alex Cejka (Germany) 70, 70, 65, 72.

279 — Stephen Ames (Trinidad & Tobago) 67, 72, 74, 66.

280 — Craig Parry (Australia) 67, 70, 72, 71.

281 — Brian Watts (Canada) 67, 71, 72, 71; Greg Chalmers (Australia) 68, 71, 72, 70.

283 — Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 70, 68, 74, 71; David Frost (South Africa) 69, 71, 75, 68.

284 — Steve Elkington (Australia) 72, 68, 70, 74.

285 — Luke Donald (Britain) 68, 71, 73, 73.

293 — Fulton Allem (South Africa) 75, 66, 74, 78.

Leading world rankings (US unless stated, previous ranking in brackets):

1. (1) Tiger Woods 16.03 points average; 2. (2) Ernie Els (South Africa) 9.23; 3. (3) Davis Love III 7.82; 4. (4) Vijay Singh (Fiji) 7.29; 5. (6) Phil Mickelson 6.77; 6. (5) Mike Weir (Canada) 6.71; 7. (8) Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 6.40; 8. (7) David Toms 6.24; 9. (9) Retief Goosen (South Africa) 5.54; 10. (10) Jim Furyk 5.38; 11. (11) Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 4.93; 12. (14) Justin Leonard 4.50; 13. (12) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 4.13; 14. (15) Chris DiMarco 3.95; 15. (27) Kenny Perry 3.94; 16. (13) Robert Allenby (Australia) 3.91; 17. (16) Bob Estes 3.69; 18. (17) Scott Hoch 3.66; 19. (18) Jerry Kelly 3.42; 20. (19) Rocco Mediate 3.36.—Reuters