Pavin’s Consistency Holds Off Challengers In Colonial Victory

Reigning U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin held off two challengers in a hot, windy Texas shootout Sunday and won the golden anniversary Colonial in Fort worth, Texas, by two strokes.

Pavin had a 1-under-par 69 for an 8-under total of 273. That was two strokes ahead of Jeff Sluman, who came from four shots back with a final-round 68 and briefly grabbed the lead late in the day.

Sluman, whose only victory was the 1988 PGA, was tied with Pavin until a bogey at No. 17 dropped him to six under.

Rocco Mediate, the 54-hole leader, started the day at eight under, a shot ahead of Pavin, and twice led by two strokes. But he dropped out of contention with a bogey at 17, posted a 73 and finished three back at 275.

Pullman’s Kirk Triplett finished 19 strokes back after a final round 78. He earned $3,015.

In Clifton, N.J., Bob Murphy made sure a great first round kept him from another second-place finish.

Murphy shot a 3-under-par 69 for a two-stroke victory in the $950,000 Cadillac NFL Senior Golf Classic, a tournament in which he finished second the last two years.

Murphy, who never trailed after shooting a course record 62 in the opening round, went into the final round tied with Jay Sigel, the eventual runner-up.

Stephen Ames of Trinidad and Tobago battled strong winds to win the Benson and Hedges International in Thame, England, on a day when 34 players shot 80 or more.

Ames sank a 15-foot par putt on the 18th to win after England’s Jon Robson had bogeyed the hole. Robson finished one stroke back.