After a final round of 69 that included five birdies in eight holes, Pádraig Harrington finished three shots behind eventual winner Andres Romero at the New Orleans Classic in Arizona last night.

Harrington stood on the par-five 18th tee on 11 under par, two shots behind Romero's total of 275, but drove into a fairway bunker. His third shot landed in water short of the green, but in keeping with his swashbuckling round, the Irishman sank a 30-foot putt for bogey.

Harrington, who shot a third-round 68, started the final round on seven under par, three shots off the lead.

He bogeyed the fourth but enjoyed a run of birdies on the par-three ninth, par-five 11th, par-four 13th, par-three 14th and par-four 16th for an 11-under-par total.

Romero, who moved into contention with a third round of 65, went around in 68 yesterday for a 13-under-par total, one ahead of Peter Lonard.

Tim Wilkinson finished two strokes back in third and Harrington, Woody Austin and Nicholas Thompson finished tied for fourth, three shots behind.

Like 34 other golfers, Romero had to come back to the course yesterday morning and finish his third round which was suspended due to heavy rain and lightning.

The Argentinian only had two holes to play and birdied them both to finish with a 65 and find himself one shot behind third-round leader John Merrick.

Romero finished his final round nearly three hours before the final group of Briny Baird and Lonard and endured a nervous wait before claiming his first PGA Tour title.

This is the fourth consecutive time a first-time winner has claimed the trophy. Tim Petrovic won in 2005, Chris Couch in 2006 and Nick Watney last year.

"I'm glad to win my first PGA Tour event," Romero said. "I will play on the PGA Tour as much as I can. "I didn't know if it would be enough. I was a little nervous. I tried to spend time with my friends."

Lonard was consistent, but a mistake on the final hole cost him. He began the day tied with Romero at nine under and made birdies on the 11th and 12th to move within a stroke.

Lonard failed to get up and down on the par-three 17th hole and dropped a shot, but he still had a par five to play.

Lonard started 18 by putting his tee shot in the left bunker and he had to lay up well before the hole. His third shot came to rest 40 feet from the pin and he was unable to make the putt.

"I knew what the number was I had to get to," Lonard said "I got there, I just didn't know what to do once I got there."