Notah Begay hit a high point in a troubled season yesterday by winning his third career PGA Tour title with a victory at the $3 million St Jude Classic.

Begay began the day a stroke off the lead but hit some key shots down the stretch to post a two-under-par 69 for a 72-hole total of 13-under (272) and a one-stroke victory over Bob May and Chris DiMarco.

Begay, a Native American and former collegiate team-mate of Tiger Woods, spent a week in jail earlier this year for a repeat drink driving offence. He earned $540,000 for his victory.

It was the third win in the last 10 months for the 27-year-old Begay, who claimed last season's Reno-Tahoe Open and Michelob Championship at Kingsmill.

Begay's brother Clint carried his bags to his third tour title, the first since he won last October in Williamsburg and last August in Reno. "It was a tough year so far, but my family has helped me a lot, especially my brother," Begay said as he fought back tears. "It has been difficult. It feels great to be back in the winner's circle."

With Woods and the rest of the PGA Tour's top-nine money-winners taking the week off, Begay had to fight off the likes of May and DiMarco, who have no titles in 204 combined starts.

May, the most successful American on the European Tour last year who earned his 2000 PGA card at Qualifying School, started the day with the lead but had two bogeys and seven pars on the back nine en route to a 71.

DiMarco shot his second successive 69 and fourth consecutive sub-70 round for his share of second place.

Memphis native Russ Cochran, Joe Ogilvie and Pete Jordan tied for fourth at 273, a stroke better than local favourite Loren Roberts, Tom Scherrer, Craig Parry of Australia and Robert Damron.

Steve Pate, who began the day a stroke off the lead, shot a 73 and finished at nine-under 275 with first-round co-leader David Peoples, Joe Durant and Glen Hnatiuk.