NEW ORLEANS, May 1: Unheralded American Chris Couch produced one of the PGA Tour's most unlikely wins with a dramatic one-shot victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Sunday.

The 32-year-old from Florida, who has played mainly on the minor Nationwide Tour, chipped in from 50 feet at the last for an unlikely par-four and a seven-under-par 65.

That left Couch on 19-under 269, just ahead of playing partner Charles Howell III whose 65 earned him a tie for second with PGA Tour veteran Fred Funk, after a best-of-the-week 62.

A beaming Couch received a winner's cheque for $1.08 million, more than triple his previous career earnings on the PGA Tour.

One stroke clear overnight, Couch covered the front nine at English Turn Golf & Country Club in a blistering six-under 30 to forge three ahead of the chasing pack.

Hardly surprisingly, the final round featured plenty of low-scoring on receptive greens softened by an overnight thunderstorm.

Despite feeling the pressure down the stretch, the twice All-America selection from the University of Florida appeared to have the title firmly within his grasp after a three-foot birdie putt at the 16th put him two ahead.

However, the tobacco-chewing American dropped his only shot of the day after finding damp sand in a greenside bunker off the tee at the par-three 17th and did well to avoid a double-bogey there by holing a 10-footer.

Against the odds, he avoided another error on 18, despite finding a poor lie in the back of another bunker after over-hitting the green with his wedge approach and under-hitting his third shot into a collar of rough.

Australia's Stuart Appleby, hunting his third PGA Tour title this year, holed his approach at the sixth for an eagle-three on his way to a 64 and a share of fourth at 15 under with Americans Brett Wetterich (66) and Joe Durant (68).

American Lucas Gover was a further stroke back in a four-way tie for seventh, a run of six birdies in seven holes helping him to a 63.

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, chasing his third title in a row, had to settle for a share of 15th after closing with a 69.

Leading final round scores:

269 – Chris Couch (US) 70, 70, 64, 65.

270 – Fred Funk (US) 70, 69, 69, 62; Charles Howell III (US) 70, 69, 66, 65.

273 – Stuart Appleby (Australia) 65, 72, 72, 64; Brett Wetterich (US) 69, 65, 73, 66; Joe Durant (US) 68, 64, 73, 68.

274 – Lucas Glover (US) 66, 73, 72, 63; Danny Ellis (US) 71, 69, 69, 65; Ian Poulter (Britain) 67, 68, 72, 67; Tim Herron (US) 67, 71, 69, 67.

275 – Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70, 68, 71, 66; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 69, 67, 75, 64; Brian Bateman (US) 70, 67, 71, 67; Tommy Armour III (US) 66, 73, 69, 67.

276 – Scott McCarron (US) 70, 69, 71, 66; Bill Haas (US) 71, 67, 72, 66; Graeme McDowell (Britain) 64, 73, 72, 67; David Branshaw (US) 67, 71, 71, 67; John Senden (Australia) 71, 66, 74, 65; Nick Watney (US) 66, 72, 70, 68; J.L. Lewis (US) 70, 69, 69, 68; Phil Mickelson (US) 68, 71, 68, 69; Dean Wilson (US) 68, 72, 66, 70; Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 69, 70, 68, 69.

277 – Woody Austin (US) 71, 68, 71, 67; Jason Schultz (US) 69, 71, 70, 67; Steve Stricker (US) 69, 71, 70, 67; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 66, 69, 75, 67; Mark Calcavecchia (US) 71, 67, 71, 68; J.P. Hayes (US) 68, 69, 71, 69.

278 – Jeff Sluman (US) 66, 73, 71, 68; Kevin Sutherland (US) 68, 71, 71, 68; Jerry Smith (US) 67, 73, 71, 67; Patrick Sheehan (US) 69, 71, 71, 67; Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 69, 68, 72, 69; Scott Verplank (US) 70, 69, 72, 67; Bubba Watson (US) 66, 73, 72, 67; Steve Lowery (US) 70, 69, 73, 66; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 68, 67, 72, 71; Cameron Beckman (US) 67, 72, 67, 72.

279 – Neal Lancaster (US) 68, 71, 71, 69; Steve Flesch (US) 67, 73, 69, 70; Jeff Brehaut (US) 68, 69, 74, 68; Charley Hoffman (US) 66, 69, 76, 68; Greg Kraft (US) 71, 69, 72, 67; Darron Stiles (US) 67, 72, 76, 64.

280 – Heath Slocum (US) 69, 71, 71, 69; Olin Browne (US) 66, 73, 72, 69; Mark Wilson (US) 72, 68, 69, 71; Jeff Overton (US) 73, 65, 71, 71; David Toms (US) 69, 67, 72, 72; Skip Kendall (US) 69, 70, 74, 67.—Reuters