Golf

Curtis' finish delayed by rain

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 26, 2006

POTOMAC, Md. - When Ben Curtis won the 2003 British Open, he didn't know the title was his until caddie Andy Sutton walked out of an equipment trailer by the practice range and said, "Ben, you're the Open champion." His final round over, Curtis had been warming up for possible playoff.

This time, Curtis can sense the victory coming a day before it happens.

Curtis was routing the field Sunday at the Booz Allen Classic when play was halted due to approaching thunderstorms. He'll resume today at 8 a.m. on the 12th hole with a score of 23 under, on pace for a tournament record and eight shots clear of Padraig Harrington.

"Hopefully, for me, it's a step in the right direction," Curtis said, "where I can dote on it and get a few more wins."

Curtis has led after every round, carding 62, 65 and 67 on the TPC at Avenel. His worst shot Sunday was his last, when he hit his 4-iron approach at No. 12 in a creek, putting him in position for what appears will be only his second bogey.

Even there, Curtis didn't seem overly concerned about his plight, saying that "it shouldn't be too difficult of a chip" to finish the hole.

"I've still got to play my game," Curtis said. "I don't want to go to sleep tonight, 'Oh, you've got it won,' because I've still got 6½ holes to go. It's not going to be easy, but I have to go to bed confident and know that I can do it."

CHAMPIONS TOUR: John Harris won his first Champions title, making a 6-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Tom Jenkins in the Commerce Bank Championship.

"First and foremost, it's the satisfaction of being able to play under the gun against the best players in the world. Having played amateur golf most of my career, this is what you dream about doing," the 54-year-old Harris said.

Harris matched the tournament's best round with a 64 Sunday despite bogeying the 18th hole in regulation.

PGA: Ron Philo Jr. won the National Professional Championship in New York, beating Alan Schulte with a bogey on the third playoff hole.

Philo earned $75,000, a berth in the PGA Championship, six 2007 PGA Tour exemptions and a spot on the PGA Cup team. "It is an honor to win this event and be the champion of the association," Philo said.

LPGA: Jeong Jang of South Korea won the Wegmans LPGA in New York for her first victory on American soil. She finished one stroke over Paraguay's Julieta Granada with a 13-under 275 total. Jang picked up her second career LPGA Tour title and earn $270,000 to jump from 11th to seventh on the money list with $650,081. "I've been waiting a long time, feels like over a year," the 26-year-old Jang said.

EUROPEAN PGA: Paul Casey shot a 1-under 72 to win the Johnnie Walker Championship by one stroke. He totaled 16-under 276 to win his second tournament on this PGA Centenary course - and his sixth European Tour event - despite some erratic driving down the stretch.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Kyle Reifers won the Chattanooga Classic in his first Nationwide Tour start, beating Brandt Snedeker with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff after breaking the course record with an 11-under 61. Reifers became the 19th Monday qualifier to win in tour history and the first since Eric Axley last year in The Rex Hospital Open.

LEGENDS: Martha Nause won the Hy-Vee Classic in Iowa, her first win in 12 years, shooting an even-par 72 for a 7-under 137 total and a two-stroke victory over Alicia Dibos.

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 01:36:51]