Pavin wins first PGA title in 10 years

Corey Pavin’s putting prowess carried him to his first PGA Tour victory in 10 years.

The 46-year-old Pavin closed with a 3-under 67 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Jerry Kelly in the U.S. Bank Championship.

Pavin, whose last victory came in the 1996 Colonial, earned his 15th tour victory with precise putting and a timely eagle on the par-4 eighth. He finished with a 20-under 260 total.

Kelly also closed with a 67. Jeff Sluman (64) was 17 under, Frank Lickliter (69) and D.J. Trahan (69) followed at 15 under and Woody Austin (65), Joey Sindelar (67) and Billy Andrade (68) were 14 under.

Pavin, who also won the tournament 20 years ago, became the eighth two-time champion in Milwaukee. While his first win here was worth $72,000, Sunday’s check was 10 times that at $720,000.

Kelly said he wanted to go head-to-head with the leader in the final round. Before the tournament, Pavin seemed like an unlikely candidate, ranking 194th in driving distance and 175th in putting.

But the 1995 U.S. Open winner scorched the short 6,759-yard Brown Deer Park Golf Course early with a PGA Tour-record 26 on the par-34 front nine Thursday. He finished the first round with a 61 and shot a 64 in the second to reach 15 under and tie the tour scoring record for the first 36 holes at 125.

Senior British Open

Loren Roberts squandered a five-stroke lead, then won a sudden death playoff over Eduardo Romero to capture the Senior British Open.

The two players went to the playoff after they finished tied at 6-under 274 at Turnberry, Scotland. Roberts shot a 75 in the final round and Romero had a 71.

They returned to the 18th tee for the playoff and, with Roberts needing three shots to reach the green, Romero, who made it in two, appeared to be in position to win the title. But he misread his 30-foot putt and left the ball 5 feet from the hole.

Roberts holed a 12-footer for par and Romero missed his short putt for a bogey to hand the title to the American.

Curtis Cup

One of the reasons Paige Mackenzie held off going pro was to play in the Curtis Cup. The wait paid off when she celebrated an American victory with her teammates.

Jennie Lee beat Melissa Reid 3 and 2 to clinch the United States’ fifth straight Curtis Cup victory, an 11 1/2-6 1/2 decision over Britain and Ireland in the biennial amateur women’s competition.

Lee, who just finished her freshman year at Duke, halved the 16th hole with her opponent from Derbyshire, England, to give the United States 9 1/2 points and the overall win at Bandon Dunes resort in Bandon, Ore.

Mackenzie, a former Washington Husky, defeated Tricia Mangan of Ennis, Ireland, 1-up, and Jane Park, who played at UCLA last season as a freshman, downed Tara Delaney of Ireland 3 and 2 for the final point total.