Purdy lifts first US PGA crown

Published May 17, 2005

IRVING (Texas), May 16: American Ted Purdy fired a flawless final round five-under 65 to claim a one stroke win over Sean O’Hair and his first US PGA Tour title at the Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday. Twice a runner-up in PGA Tour events, Purdy took the final step into the winner’s circle with a polished last day at the TPC at Four Seasons Resort for a winning total of 15-under 265.

O’Hair, a 22-year-old Tour rookie whose only notoriety had been an overbearing father who made him turn professional before completing high school, began the day with a one shot lead.

He refused to wilt in the spotlight but settled for a career best second place after carding a final round two-under 68.

Vijay Singh used an ace on the 17th and birdie on the last for a final round five-under 65 to jump into a tie for third with Bob Tway and Doug Barron at 11-under 269, missing a chance to reclaim top spot in the world rankings from Tiger Woods.

Leading final round scores:

265 — Ted Purdy (US) 65, 67, 68, 65.

266 — Sean O’Hair (US) 66, 65, 67, 68.

269 — Vijay Singh (Fiji) 68, 67, 69, 65; Bob Tway (US) 68, 68, 66, 67; Doug Barron (US) 69, 66, 65, 69.

270 — Omar Uresti (US) 65, 70, 69, 66; Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 66, 69, 68, 67; Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 67, 67, 68, 68; Scott Verplank (US) 68, 67, 65, 70.

271 — Mark Brooks (US) 71, 69, 65, 66; Ernie Els (South Africa) 64, 72, 69, 66; J.J. Henry (US) 67, 69, 67, 68; D.J. Brigman (US) 72, 66, 64, 69.

272 — Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 70, 69, 69, 64; Skip Kendall (US) 70, 68, 68, 66; Phil Mickelson (US) 69, 66, 70, 67; John Rollins (US) 67, 68, 68, 69.

273 — Vaughn Taylor (US) 67, 71, 69, 66; J.P. Hayes (US) 69, 65, 72, 67; Jim Furyk (US) 68, 69, 69, 67; Corey Pavin (US) 69, 68, 68, 68; Brett Wetterich (US) 64, 67, 73, 69; Heath Slocum (US) 69, 66, 69, 69; Luke Donald (Britain) 68, 69, 67, 69; Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 69, 67, 68, 69; Todd Hamilton (US) 67, 67, 65, 74.

274 — Kevin Sutherland (US) 69, 70, 69, 66; John Senden (Australia) 70, 68, 70, 66; Rod Pampling (Australia) 72, 68, 67, 67; Billy Mayfair (US) 70, 63, 72, 69; Mark O’Meara (US) 69, 69, 67, 69; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 69, 68, 68, 69; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 63, 73, 68, 70; Jay Williamson (US) 67, 70, 66, 71.

275 — James Driscoll (US) 73, 67, 68, 67; Scott McCarron (US) 68, 70, 69, 68; Ryuji Imada (Japan) 68, 70, 68, 69; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 71, 68, 66, 70; Craig Perks (New Zealand) 71, 68, 66, 70.

276 — Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 67, 72, 70, 67; Bernhard Langer (Germany) 73, 67, 69, 67; Ian Leggatt (Canada) 66, 73, 68, 69; Mark Wilson (US) 68, 70, 69, 69; John Cook (US) 69, 69, 69, 69; Jerry Kelly (US) 73, 66, 66, 71; Stewart Cink (US) 71, 67, 67, 71; Bo Van Pelt (US) 67, 69, 68, 72.

277 — Kenny Perry (US) 67, 70, 74, 66; Briny Baird (US) 68, 72, 68, 69; Justin Rose (Britain) 69, 71, 68, 69; John Daly (US) 64, 73, 71, 69; Cameron Beckman (US) 66, 70, 71, 70; Ben Crane (US) 70, 66, 68, 73.

278 — Jonathan Byrd (US) 71, 68, 69, 70; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69, 71, 65, 73.

279 — Chad Campbell (US) 70, 70, 72, 67; Steve Elkington (Australia) 72, 67, 71, 69.

280 — Justin Leonard (US) 72, 68, 72, 68; Jim Carter (US) 72, 68, 71, 69; Paul Gow (Australia) 66, 72, 71, 71; Tom Gillis (US) 69, 70, 68, 73; Robert Allenby (Australia) 68, 70, 68, 74; Brandt Jobe (US) 69, 69, 68, 74.

281 — Harrison Frazar (US) 66, 70, 75, 70; Steve Stricker (US) 69, 68, 71, 73; Steve Lowery (US) 65, 69, 72, 75; Todd Fischer (US) 66, 69, 71, 75.

282 — Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 70, 66, 75, 71.

283 — Gavin Coles (Australia) 66, 71, 69, 77.

284 — Hunter Mahan (US) 72, 68, 74, 70.

285 — Pat Perez (US) 68, 71, 74, 72.

286 — Jason Hartwick (US) 66, 72, 78, 70; Brendan Jones (Australia) 69, 71, 74, 72.

288 — Glen Day (US) 66, 73, 71, 78.

289 — Mark Hensby (Australia) 67, 72, 79, 71; Tim Petrovic (US) 69, 71, 74, 75.—Reuters