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SPORTS Monday 24 July 2017

Rookie Murray holds on at Barbasol for first PGA Tour title

By JOHN ZENOR pare. It paid off, the win
AP Sports Writer securing him a spot in the
OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — Rook- PGA Championship in his
ie Grayson Murray won the home state of North Caro-
Barbasol Championship on lina though not the Masters.
Sunday for his first PGA Tour Murray came in ranked
title, holing a 5-foot par putt 124th, with the top 125
on the final hole for a one- qualifying for the FedEx
stroke victory. Cup playoffs.
Murray closed with a 3-un- Collins closed with a 68
der 68 to edge Chad Col- two days after posting one
lins on Grand National’s of the tournament’s two
Lake Course. The 23-year- rounds of 60. A tap-in for
old former Wake Forest par on No. 18 left him wait-
and Arizona State player ing to see if Murray would
set up the winning par with stumble.
a 40-plus foot putt from be- Collins had a run of four
low the hole. He finished at birdies in five holes leading
21-under 263. into the 18th. He missed a
“I was in control,” said Mur- 6-footer with a shot at an-
ray, who nabbed $630,000 other one and a potential
for the win. “I didn’t get out tie with Murray.
of my game plan once. “I gave myself an oppor- Grayson Murray tees off on the fourth hole in the final round of the Barbasol Championship golf
tournament, Sunday, July 23, 2017, in Opelika, Ala.
I was going to let them tunity,” he said. “It was a (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
make the mistakes instead nervy bad putt. It wasn’t
of myself. I was going to obviously what I wanted, year in the Texas Open. Coming off a third-round Ryan Blaum (64) and Cam-
make them have to bird- but to put yourself in that “It’s my best finish ever out 60, Stallings took the solo eron Tringale (68).
ie the last hole, or the last position, that’s ultimately here on tour, had the best lead with a birdie on No. Ryder Cup captain Jim Fu-
few holes. I was playing for what you’re trying to do. round I’ve ever had on 10 that put him under par ryk, who didn’t qualify for
par on 17 and 18. I knew if And the more times I’m tour,” he said. “You gain for the first time of the day. the British Open, finished
I parred those, they’d have able to do that and put my- tons of confidence from this He fell back with a double at 11 under after a third
to do something special to self in that situation, maybe going forward. You can bogey on the par-5 16th, straight 68.
beat me.” one day it will be my day. only draw positives from it. “ three-putting after taking The final round started early
Murray missed the cut last Just today it wasn’t.” Brian Gay had a 65 to tie for a drop following an errant on two tees because of a
week at the John Deere Collins tied for fourth at The third at 19 under with third- drop. Amateur Sam Burns bad weather forecast, but
Classic and arrived in Ala- Honda Classic and his best round leader Scott Stallings of LSU tied for sixth at 18 the conditions held steady
bama on Sunday to pre- previous finish was third last (71) and Tag Ridings (69). under after a 66, matching in sweltering heat.q

Li Haotong shoots 63 at British Open for round of his life

By STEVE DOUGLAS golfer became the fourth ter being just two shots off “I could see he wasn’t actually,” he said. “I can’t
AP Sports Writer player to shoot 63 in the the lead at one stage, he backing off,” Els said. “You explain. “Glad to see I
SOUTHPORT, England (AP) final round of the British finished in third place and see some guys get a little holed everything. So quite
— Li Haotong crept into Open, after Jodie Mudd six shots behind champion bit scared, but he kept go- happy out there.”
unexpected contention at (Royal Birkdale in 1991), Jordan Spieth. ing. So it was really special Li won the Volvo China
the British Open with the Payne Stewart (Royal St. Ernie Els, Li’s playing part- to see.” Open last year and maybe
round of his life on Sunday. George’s in 1993) and Hen- ner, had a front-row seat Li said he felt at home at gained more notoriety last
It didn’t win him the claret rik Stenson (Royal Troon in of a bogey-free round con- Royal Birkdale because it month at the French Open,
jug. It did earn him a place 2016). The 7-under round taining seven birdies — four was similar to the course when he threw his putter
at the Masters. moved him to 6 under for coming in the final four he plays in Shanghai, Lake into a lake in frustration at
The 21-year-old Chinese the tournament and af- holes — and just 25 putts. Malaren. “Unbelievable, making a bogey. q