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CROMWELL (Connecticut), Aug 29: Brad Faxon equalled the course record before edging South Africa’s Tjaart van der Walt in a playoff to pick up a first PGA Tour title in more than four years at the Buick Championship on Sunday.
Faxon struck his approach to within three feet of the cup for a birdie at the first extra hole to seal the eighth PGA Tour win of his career, his first since the 2001 Sony Open in Hawaii.
The American, who began the day seven strokes behind overnight leader Justin Rose of Britain, fired a course record equalling nine-under-par 61 at the TPC at River Highlands – the lowest round of his 22-year career.
That left him on 14-under 266 after the 72 holes of regulation play, level with van der Walt, who closed with a 64.
The 30-year-old South African, whose best previous finish this season was a tie for 50th at the Buick Open in July, birdied the last two holes to take the tournament into a playoff.
Englishman Rose, tournament leader since the first day and chasing his PGA Tour title, battled to a 69 to secure third place at 13-under 267.
Leading final round scores:
266 — Brad Faxon (US) 69, 71, 65, 61; Tjaart van der Walt (South Africa) 68, 66, 68, 64 (Faxon wins playoff on first extra hole).
267 — Justin Rose (Britain) 65, 63, 70, 69.
268 — Michael Putnam (US) 65, 69, 71, 63; Jerry Kelly (US) 68, 67, 67, 66; Ben Curtis (US) 64, 68, 67, 69.
269 — Kenny Perry (US) 70, 69, 67, 63.
270 — Corey Pavin (US) 66, 69, 67, 68.
271 — Nick Watney (US) 69, 66, 70, 66; Darron Stiles (US) 71, 69, 63, 68; Woody Austin (US) 69, 68, 65, 69.
272 — Jeff Brehaut (US) 68, 68, 72, 64; Glen Day (US) 68, 67, 71, 66; Tom Gillis (US) 67, 68, 71, 66; Vaughn Taylor (US) 65, 70, 71, 66.
273 — Jeff Maggert (US) 70, 68, 69, 66; Robert Allenby (Australia) 68, 66, 72, 67; Steve Allan (Australia) 70, 68, 68, 67; Kevin Sutherland (US) 65, 67, 72, 69.
274 — Joey Sindelar (US) 75, 62, 72, 65; Bart Bryant (US) 70, 69, 70, 65; Frank Lickliter II (US) 68, 70, 68, 68; Pat Perez (US) 70, 66, 70, 68; Spencer Levin (US) 68, 68, 69, 69.
275 — Hidemichi Tanaka (Japan) 66, 70, 74, 65; Bo Van Pelt (US) 67, 71, 71, 66; John Rollins (US) 74, 66, 69, 66; Peter Lonard (Australia) 68, 71, 68, 68; D.J. Trahan (US) 71, 68, 67, 69; Jeff Hart (US) 71, 67, 68, 69.
MUNICH: Britain’s David Howell ended a six-year wait for his second European Tour title with victory in the BMW International Open on Sunday.
A closing seven-under-par 65 for a 23-under-par 265 four-round total, left him a stroke better than double major winner and former Munich champion John Daly and Australia’s Brett Rumford.
Howell began the final round a stroke behind fellow Briton Luke Donald and held his nerve after an early bogey to accumulate eight birdies as playing partner Donald floundered.
Leading final round scores:
265 — David Howell (Britain) 66, 68, 66, 65.
266 — John Daly (US) 68, 69, 65, 64; Brett Rumford (Australia) 65, 67, 69, 65.
267 — Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 71, 68, 64, 64; Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 67, 69, 65, 66.
268 — Paul McGinley (Ireland) 68, 69, 66, 65.
269 — Simon Dyson (Britain) 69, 68, 70, 62.
270 — Simon Khan (Britain) 68, 65, 68, 69.
271 — Bradley Dredge (Britain) 67, 67, 69, 68; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 72, 68, 64, 67.
272 — Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 65, 68, 70, 69; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 70, 68, 68, 66; Luke Donald (Britain) 67, 65, 67, 73; Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina) 67, 67, 68, 70; Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 70, 70, 68, 64.—Reuters
