Rookie Stolz wins first at Michelin

Andre Stolz played like a veteran instead of a struggling rookie when it counted most Sunday, shooting a 5-under 67 to win the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas by a shot over Tom Lehman and two others.

Stolz two-putted from 45 feet on the final hole to win for the first time on the PGA Tour and turn what had been a dismal season into a triumphant success.

The Australian, who had made only $88,373 all year, made a crucial birdie putt on the 16th hole and then parred the last two holes to collect the $720,000 winner’s check and gain a tour exemption for the next two years.

Tag Ridings, who tied the course record with a final-round 61, tied for second along with Lehman (69) and Harrison Frazar (67).

Europe

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher won for the first time on the European tour, beating Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell on the first playoff hole at the Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland.

Gallacher, the nephew of former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, made a winning 4-foot birdie putt after McDowell hit his second shot into a creek that runs across the front of the green on the first hole of the Old Course.

LPGA

Liselotte Neumann won her first LPGA Tour title in six years, holding off a late charge by Grace Park for a three-stroke victory at the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship at North Augusta, S.C.

Neumann, the 1988 U.S. Women’s Open champion, closed with a final-round 68 for a 15-under 273 total, for her first win since the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship in 1998.

Champions Tour

Larry Nelson rallied from far off the lead and made a 5-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Hale Irwin and win the Administaff Small Business Classic at Spring, Texas.

Nelson, who started the final round seven shots back, closed with an 8-under 64 and tied Irwin (67) at 14-under 202, winning his second Champions Tour event of the year and 19th overall.