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A18 SPORTS
Monday 12 June 2017
Berger wins at St. Jude Classic for second straight year
DAVID BRANDT der 66 to erase a three-shot shot lead on a crowded
AP Sports Writer deficit and beat South Afri- leaderboard that includ-
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — can Charl Schwartzel and ed 12 players within three
The first few shots of Daniel South Korean Whee Kim by shots of the lead. Cabrera
Berger’s final round didn’t one stroke. Bello stayed in contention
give much clue that his Now he just might be one for most of the day, finish-
second straight victory at of the young players to ing with a 71, but Cink and
the St. Jude Classic was watch going into the U.S. Crane both shot a 73.
only a few hours away. Open next week at Erin Hills The leaderboard was a
He hit his drive on No. 1 into in Wisconsin. jumbled mess through
the rough, sent his next shot “We hear a lot about the much of the final round. At
into the rough far past the young guns and about the one point, there were nine
hole and his third shot was Justin Thomases and Jor- players tied for the lead at
a chip that didn’t even dan Spieths, but I feel like I 8-under before Berger final-
make it to the green. What kind of get forgotten a little ly emerged from the pile.
was left was an awkward bit,” Berger said. “I’m pret- “I just hit so many good
25-foot chip to save par. ty good, so I’m just going shots coming down the
He drilled it. to try and keep doing my stretch and I can’t even ex-
And from that point on, thing and see if I can’t get plain,” Berger said. “It’s just
Berger put together a stel- St. Jude Classic golf tournament winner Daniel Berger kisses his a few more.” — I feel like I wasn’t even
lar day on a firm, fast, trophy during a ceremony after the tournament Sunday, June Berger is the fourth back- on the golf course. It just
11, 2017, in Memphis, Tenn.
challenging course at TPC Associated Press to-back winner at St. Jude kind of happened.”
Southwind, shooting a 4-un- and the first since David Phil Mickelson briefly had
Toms did it in 2003 and ‘04. a share of the lead during
He played a bogey-free the final round, but a triple
round on Sunday, usually bogey on No. 12 — which
avoiding trouble after the included a shot into the
first hole. His 17-foot bird- water — knocked him out
ie putt on No. 15 put him of contention. He still shot
ahead for good and he fin- a 68 and finished at 7-un-
ished at 10-under 270. der, three shots behind the
“I played really great leaders. Mickelson, who is
through the first couple not expected to play in the
days but I didn’t make as U.S. Open next week be-
many putts,” Berger said. cause of his oldest daugh-
“Then the last couple days ter’s high school gradu-
they just started to fall ation, said he feels good
and that was the big dif- about how he’s playing
ference.” Schwartzel shot except when it comes to
a 66 and Kim shot a 67 to between his ears.
finish in second. Amateur “The good news is that my
Braden Thornberry and Billy physical game is there and
Horschel were among five I should be able to find the
players two shots back. mental toughness here
Schwartzel played well for soon,” Mickelson said.
most of the tournament, Thornberry shot a 65 and
but a 4-over 74 in the third became the first amateur
round made for a steep to finish in the top 10 at the
hill to climb on Sunday. He St. Jude Classic since 1965.
nearly made it, but a long Thornberry, a sophomore
putt on No. 17 stopped just at Mississippi who is from
short of the birdie he need- nearby Olive Branch, Mis-
ed to pull even with Berger. sissippi, recently won the
Stewart Cink, Ben Crane NCAA individual champi-
and Rafa Cabrera Bello onship with for the school’s
started Sunday with a one- first golf title.q
