SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Steven Bowditch held on to win the Texas Open in windy conditions Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory and a spot in the Masters.
The 30-year-old Australian bogeyed the par-5 18th for a 4-over 76 for a one-stroke victory.
“I’m over the moon. I really can’t believe it,” said Bowditch, who attempted suicide in 2006 and has fought depression throughout his career.
It was the highest closing score by a winner since Vijay Singh finished with a 4-over 76 in the 2004 PGA Championship, and the highest in a non-major since Fred Couples had a 5-over 77 in the 1983 Kemper Open.
Bowditch finished at 8-under 280 at TPC San Antonio and earned $1,116,000.
Bowditch, based in Dallas, entered the week 339th in the world and had only two top-10 finishes in eight years on the tour. He won once on the Australasian circuit and twice on the Web.Com Tour.
Will MacKenzie and Daniel Summerhays tied for second. MacKenzie shot 70, and Summerhays had a 71.
Chesson Hadley and Ryan Palmer missed chances to get into the Masters through the top 50 in the world ranking. Hadley, the Puerto Rico Open winner, needed at least a sixth-place finish, but closed with an 80 to tie for 56th at 5 over. Palmer needed a top-three finish and had an 82 to also tie for 56th.
KIA CLASSIC
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) - Anna Nordqvist rallied to win the Kia Classic at Aviara for her second victory in her last four LPGA Tour starts.
Two strokes behind leaders Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas entering the round, Nordqvist closed with her second straight 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Salas.
Nordqvist won the LPGA Thailand last month to end a five-year victory drought, holding off top-ranked Inbee Park. The 26-year-old Swede also won the LPGA Championship and LPGA Tour Championship in 2009.
Projected to jump from 16th to ninth in the world, Nordqvist finished at 13-under 275 and earned $255,000.
Salas birdied the 18th for a 70.
Lexi Thompson was third at 11 under after a 68.
The Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major tournament of the year, is next week in Rancho Mirage.
LOUISIANA OPEN
BROUSSARD, La. (AP) - Kris Blanks won the Louisiana Open for his second career Web.com Tour title, closing a 9-under 62 and beating Brett Stegmaier with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff.
Seven strokes behind leader Kyle Reifers at the start of the round, Blanks matched Stegmaier at 14-under 270 at La Triomphe and earned $99,000.
The 41-year-old Blanks was making his first Web.com start of the year after playing five PGA Tour events. He had shoulder surgery a year ago.
Stegmaier finished with a 68. He missed a 60-foot birdie try on the third extra hole.
Reifers and Jonathan Randolph tied for third at 13 under. Randolph shot 67, and Reifers had a 70.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.