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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Woody Austin, Mark Mulder win Diamond Resorts Invitational

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. – Woody Austin completed a wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Diamond Resorts Invitational and former pitcher Mark Mulder took the celebrity title.

Austin closed with a 6-under 66 on the Four Seasons Resort’s Tranquilo course, earning 31 points in the modified Stableford scoring system to finish the three-round event at 104 – eight points ahead of second-place Joe Durant. Austin opened with an 11-under 59.

A three-time winner last year on the PGA Tour Champions, the 52-year-old Austin had seven birdies and one bogey in the final round, with a birdie worth three points, a par one point and a bogey zero points.

Coming off offseason hernia surgery, Austin missed only one fairway and one green in regulation Sunday

“I couldn’t have made it any easier,” Austin said. “I hit it where I wanted. Every shot was right down the line.”

Mulder rallied to top of the celebrity division, scoring 30 points in a 67 to finish with 77 points. Former tennis player Mardy Fish, the winner last year, and former kicker Ryan Longwell tied for second with 67 points. Second-round leader Ray Allen was fourth with 66.

Mulder made two six-point eagles, chipping in from 25 yards on the par-5 seventh and holing a 25-footer on the par-5 12th.

“I feel mentally I’m tougher than the next guy,” Mulder said. “I don’t know if pitching has anything to do with it, because pitching and hitting a golf ball are about the only things where nothing can happen until you go.”

The long-hitting Mulder has won the last two American Century Championships for celebrities in Lake Tahoe.

Lexi Thompson was 11th with 83 points to top the four LPGA Tour players in the professional field. Brittany Lincicome tied for 22nd with 74 points, Brooke Henderson was 24th with 73, and Brittany Lang was 30th in the 31-player field with 66 points.

All of the competitors played from the same tees. Austin earned $125,000, and Mulder made $100,000.