POTOMAC, June 28: Australia's Adam Scott held off a late charge from Charles Howell III to win the Booz Allen Classic by a comfortable four strokes on Sunday. Scott, with two wins this season on the PGA Tour, finished on 21-under-par 263 after carding a 68 in the final round.

Howell, who shot a 65, took second place on 267, while South Africa's Rory Sabbatini, the defending champion, was third another two shots back with a 66. Germany's Alex Cejka and Olin Browne were joint seventh on 273, while Frank Lickliter II and Aaron Barber tied for ninth another stroke back.

Scott had begun the final round with a six-stroke lead over Browne, while Oberholser and Howell were seven back. The 23-year-old stretched the lead to seven on the front nine, but then on the 11th hole Howell began a string of five straight birdies that would pull him within two shots.

After making a three-putt par on the par-five 13th, Scott answered with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and added another at the 17th. The 25-year-old Howell, meanwhile, could manage only two pars and a bogey over the final three holes.

Scott's 21-under total tied the tournament record held by Billy Andrade and Jeff Sluman and only a bogey at the 18th prevented Scott from setting a new scoring mark.

Leading final round scores:

263 - Adam Scott (Australia) 66, 62, 67, 68.

267 - Charles Howell III (US) 61, 69, 72, 65.

269 - Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 67, 67, 69, 66.

272 - Tim Herron (US) 69, 68, 68, 67; Bo Van Pelt (US) 69, 68, 68, 67; Arron Oberholser (US) 69, 65, 68, 70.

273 - Alex Cejka (Germany) 74, 63, 67, 69; Olin Browne (US) 64, 66, 71, 72.

274 - Frank Lickliter II (US) 67, 69, 72, 66; Aaron Barber (US) 70, 68, 68, 68.

275 - Ryan Palmer (US) 70, 69, 68, 68; Harrison Frazar (US) 67, 69, 70, 69; Jeff Sluman (US) 65, 71, 69, 70; Tom Lehman (US) 66, 67, 71, 71; Duffy Waldorf (US) 67, 71, 66, 71. -Reuters