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DUBLIN (Ohio), June 6: American Bart Bryant fired a final round four-under 68 to capture the Memorial tournament by one stroke from Fred Couples on Sunday.
Bryant turned a back nine rally and nervy 18th at the Muirfield Village Golf Club into a 16-under 272 and his second career title.
Even par through the front nine, Bryant mounted a determined charge at the turn with four birdies but sealed the victory with a gritty 12-foot par putt on 18 to leave Couples needing a birdie at the last.
Without a win since 2003, Couples’s chances of returning to the winner’s circle appeared slim going one over through his first eight holes but the former Masters champion hit red-hot form carding five birdies on his next seven holes to move top of the leaderboard.
All the hard work, however, was undone by a bogey on 16, a second Memorial title slipping through his fingers after carding a three-under 69.
Three-time Memorial champion Tiger Woods rebounded with a solid performance.
Woods carded a final round 68 to finish in a tie for third with Bo Van Pelt and Jeff Sluman at 12-under 276.
Leading final round scores (US unless stated):
272 — Bart Bryant 69, 69, 66, 68.
273 — Fred Couples 71, 67, 66, 69.
276 — Bo Van Pelt 67, 72, 69, 68; Tiger Woods 69, 68, 71, 68; Jeff Sluman 65, 71, 68, 72.
277 — Nick O’Hern (Australia) 67, 70, 70, 70; Jonathan Kaye 67, 70, 68, 72.
278 — Lucas Glover 67, 70, 73, 68; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 69, 72, 69, 68; Jim Furyk 73, 73, 64, 68; Richard Green (Australia) 67, 72, 69, 70; David Toms 70, 70, 64, 74.
279 — Scott Verplank 75, 66, 67, 71; Woody Austin 67, 73, 65, 74.
280 — Jerry Kelly 70, 71, 69, 70; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 66, 74, 69, 71.
282 — Greg Owen (Britain) 76, 68, 67, 71; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 71, 73, 65 73; Peter Lonard (Australia) 71, 68, 67, 76; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 70, 71, 66, 75.
283 — Brad Faxon 74, 72, 67, 70; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 71, 70, 70, 72; Jay Haas 69, 70, 71, 73.
284 — Tom Pernice Jr 72, 72, 72, 68; Kirk Triplett 74, 69, 71, 70; Kenny Perry 69, 72, 71, 72; Vaughn Taylor 72, 70, 70, 72; Billy Andrade 69, 71, 71, 73; Harrison Frazar 69, 68, 73, 74.
RECORD EQUALLED
NEWPORT (Wales): Spanish Ryder Cup stalwart Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a course record-equalling 62 to win the Wales Open at Celtic Manor on Sunday, his second title of the season.
Jimenez, who was five under par for the last six holes, posted a 14-under total of 262, four strokes ahead of compatriot Jose Manuel Lara, who shot 66, and Sweden’s Martin Erlandsson who came through the field with a closing 63.
Beginning the final round a stroke behind overnight leader Alessandro Tadini of Italy, Jimenez showed little sign of what was to come as he struggled early in the round.
Three birdies in five holes up to the turn showed the 41-year-old Spaniard’s intent, however, and when he picked up shots at the 13th and 14th he moved ahead of the field.
A scintillating eagle on the long 16th, one of only two par-fives on one of the shortest courses on the European Tour, made it a runaway win to add to his victory in the Hong Kong Open in December.
Tadini, who led after the second and third rounds, stayed on top of the leaderboard to the turn after two birdies going out, but the Italian, in only his second season on full tour, wilted over the back nine.
Leading final round scores (Britain unless stated):
262 — Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 63, 67, 70, 62.
266 — Martin Erlandsson (Sweden) 69, 65, 69, 63; Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 68, 65, 67, 66.
267 — Jean-Francois Lucquin (France) 65, 66, 69, 67.
268 — Joakim Haeggman (Sweden) 68, 66, 68, 66; Alessandro Tadini (Italy) 65, 62, 72, 69; Ian Woosnam 64, 68, 68, 68.
270 — Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 65, 70, 67, 68; David Lynn 63, 66 72 69; Wade Ormsby (Australia) 67, 68, 70, 65; Oliver Wilson 67, 67, 69, 67.
271 — Nick Dougherty 65, 72, 65, 69; Gary Orr 66, 70, 67, 68; Anthony Wall 70, 68, 66, 67.
272 — Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 65, 72, 70, 65; Steve Webster 68, 71, 68, 65.
273 — Richard Bland 66, 70, 69, 68; Paul Broadhurst 70, 68, 70, 65; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 67, 66, 70, 70; Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 69, 69, 68, 67; Jan-Are Larsen (Norway) 67, 68, 69, 69; Paul Lawrie 67, 68, 69, 69; Peter Senior (Australia) 63, 72, 72, 66.
274 — Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) 67, 70, 69, 68; Robert Coles 68, 69, 72, 65; Francois Delamontagne (France) 66, 66, 71, 71; Stuart Little 64, 69, 72, 69; Terry Price (Australia) 70, 67, 65, 72; Richard Sterne (South Africa) 67, 72, 70, 65.—Reuters
