Verplank finishes the stronger

Byron Nelson Championship: Scott Verplank won the Byron Nelson Championship at Cottonwood Valley GC, Texas yesterday by one …

Byron Nelson Championship:Scott Verplank won the Byron Nelson Championship at Cottonwood Valley GC, Texas yesterday by one shot from overnight leader Luke Donald of England.

Verplank fired a final round of four-under-par 66 for a 13-under-par total of 267.

Donald, who closed with a two-under-par 68, seemed in total control, jumping clear with three early birdies, but he double bogeyed at the par-four ninth, where he took three shots to get to the edge of the green, and three more to hole out.

That disaster gave Verplank the lead at 12-under at the turn, and he held off Donald on the final nine with birdies at the 11th and 13th.

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Jerry Kelly and Rory Sabbatini, who both shot 64 in the last round, shared fourth place with Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter on 10-under-par 270.

Verplank, who first played in this event back in 1986, parred the first five holes, at which point he was three behind Donald.

Leading Final scores

(USA unless stated)

267 - Scott Verplank 67 68 66 66.

268 - L Donald (Eng) 67 66 67 68.

270 - J Kelly 69 70 67 64, R Sabbatini (SA) 70 69 67 64, P Mickelson 69 70 66 65, I Poulter (Eng) 70 69 65 66.

271 - F Jacobson (Swe) 67 67 71 66, K Duke 68 73 64 66.

272 - R Imada (Jap) 70 68 67 67.

273 - R Pampling (Aus) 68 70 69 66, B Wetterich 66 68 72 67, S Marino 69 67 70 67.