HILTON HEAD ISLAND (South Carolina), April 17: Australia's Aaron Baddeley capped a special weekend by holding off Jim Furyk to win his maiden PGA Tour title by a shot at the Heritage Classic on Sunday.

Baddeley, who joined the PGA Tour in 2003, birdied two of the last five holes at the Harbour Town Golf Links for a one-under-par 70, finishing at 15-under 269.

The 25-year-old became the fourth Australian to triumph at the Heritage, following Graham Marsh (1977), Greg Norman (1988) and Peter Lonard (2005).

“To win is a relief, but it's also a dream, a goal that's been reached,” a smiling Baddeley told reporters after slipping on the tartan jacket traditionally presented to champions at Harbour Town and receiving the winner's cheque for $954,000.

American Furyk, two strokes clear with seven holes to play, had a chance to force a playoff on the final hole after hitting a superb wedge approach to 10 feet but missed the birdie putt.

The 2003 US Open champion, who lost ground with bogeys on the 12th and 17th, had to settle for a 71 and outright second place.

Americans Vaughn Taylor (66) and Billy Mayfair (69) tied for third at 13 under, while world number five Ernie Els (71) fell back after a fast start into a share of seventh at 10 under.

Leading final round scores:

269 -- Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 66, 67, 66, 70.

270 -- Jim Furyk (US) 64, 67, 68, 71.

271 -- Vaughn Taylor (US) 63, 70, 72, 66; Billy Mayfair (US) 65, 69, 68, 69.

273 -- Brett Quigley (US) 68, 70, 68, 67; Jerry Kelly (US) 68, 69, 66, 70.

274 -- Tim Clark (South Africa) 72, 65, 68, 69; Ernie Els (South Africa) 71, 67, 65, 71.

276 -- Brian Gay (US) 66, 67, 73, 70; Jose Coceres (Argentina) 69, 67, 68, 72.

277 -- Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 66, 68, 74, 69.

278 -- Stephen Leaney (Australia) 71, 69, 70, 68; Ben Crane (US) 67, 68, 72, 71; Corey Pavin (US) 69, 69, 69, 71; Heath Slocum (US) 71, 70 65, 72; Lucas Glover (US) 70, 68, 66, 74.

279 -- Frank Lickliter II (US) 71, 71, 69, 68; Arjun Atwal (India) 67, 70, 71, 71; Woody Austin (US) 68, 69, 70, 72; Jeff Maggert (US) 69, 66, 71, 73.

280 -- Bart Bryant (US) 70, 69, 72, 69; Paul Azinger (US) 68, 69, 73, 70; Joey Sindelar (US) 69, 72, 68, 71; Scott Verplank (US) 69, 71, 68, 72; Duffy Waldorf (US) 65, 68, 74, 73; Tom Pernice Jr (US) 65, 69, 72, 74.—Reuters