US PGA Tour rookie Tim Herron, showing a veteran's composure, shot a final round 69 yesterday to wrap up victory in the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Florida.

Herron, who lead from the first round, finished at 17 under par, four strokes better than Mark McCumber, who also shot a 69. Tied for third at 12 under were Zimbabwe's Nick Price and Payne Stewart, both with 68s, and Lee Rinker after a 69.

It was the first victory by a rookie since Price did it at the World Series in 1983.

The 26 year old from Wayzata, Minnesota won in just his seventh start on the US PGA Tour. His previous best finish was a tie for 24th at the Buick Invitational last month.

Herron began the round with a three stroke lead over New Zealander Michael Campbell, who shot 74 to finish in a tie for seventh. Herron extended that lead to five strokes, over McCumber, with a four under 32 on Eagle Trace's front nine.

He played the back nine in one over 37, and the closest McCumber got to him was three strokes, for the space of just one hole. Herron started the week with a course record tying round of 62, extended his lead to six strokes with a second round 68, and held on for a three stroke lead with a 72 on Saturday.

Herron showed that he was ready to win from the first hole on Sunday. His seven iron approach shot on the par four hit the hole and he tapped in for birdie from three inches. He made a bogey on the third hole, but he rallied for a birdie on the next hole. In fact, he birdied the next four.

With two holes to play Herron held a five stroke lead and made his worst stroke of the day, chunking a seven iron shot on 17 into the water. But he then he holed a 15-footer from just off the green for bogey.

The win was worth $234,000 to Herron. "I don't even know how much money that is, I don't even know how it feels to have that much," said Herron.

Herron's total career earnings at the start of the week were just $16,924. The win moved him up from 115th to eighth on the 1996 US money list.