Duval Fends Off Disaster

Mon., Feb. 23, 1998

Associated Press

Golf

David Duval blew a seven-shot lead, then recovered with a dramatic, 15-foot chip for birdie and beat Justin Leonard and David Toms by four strokes Sunday in the $2 million Tucson Chrysler Classic in Tucson, Ariz.

Duval finished in style, sinking a 35-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to create the illusion of an easy victory. It was anything but simple.

Duval, who won three consecutive starts at the end of last season, won his fourth title despite shooting 1-over-par 73. He finished with a four-day total of 19-under 269.

Leonard, Duval’s playing partner all four rounds, shot a final-round 70 that included a bogey on the 18th hole.

He caught up with Duval at 17-under on the 14th hole and shared the lead on No. 15. But Leonard bogeyed No. 16 when he two-putted after chipping onto the green, and Duval made his chip.

Toms closed with a strong 68, but also bogeyed the last hole.

Tim Herron and Steve Lowery shared fourth place at 275, with Tom Lehman, Andrew Magee and Bob Tway at 276.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett finished last.

American Express Invitational

Larry Nelson’s long wait for his first Senior PGA Tour title ended in style with a four-stroke victory in the American Express Invitational in Sarasota, Fla.

Nelson, who was expected to become an immediate force on the Senior Tour after turning 50 in September, arrived with six Top 10 finishes in eight tournament appearances, but winless.

That changed with a final-round 2-under-par 70 around wind-ravaged Tournament Players Club at Prestancia that gave Nelson a 54-hole total of 13-under 203.

Nelson finished four shots in front of runner-up Dave Stockton, who closed with an even-par 72.

Dimension Data Pro-Am

Zimbabwe’s Nick Price overcame a “brutal” course to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am in Sun City, South Africa, for the second straight year.

Price closed with a par 72 for a 12-under 276 and a five-stroke victory.

Mark McNulty, also of Zimbabwe, shot a final-round 73 and finished second at 281. South Africa’s Tjaart van der Merwe was third at 283.

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Duval Fends Off Disaster

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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