Golf-Maggert surges to three-shot victory in Memphis
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-29 09:28
An outward nine of one-under 34 earned him a share of the lead with Cox and
he was the only title contender to negotiate the treacherous closing stretch
without a bogey.
Although six players had been within a stroke of the lead before Maggert
reached the turn, he tightened his grip on the tournament with a birdie-two at
the 11th followed by a run of four consecutive pars.
He reached the green in two with a superb two-iron from 260 yards at the
par-five 16th and stretched his cushion to three by holing the monster putt.
Maggert's fourth birdie of the day at the difficult 17th allowed him a
stress-free walk down the last.
Pernice had to settle for his best finish and third top-10 of the season,
having narrowly escaped a penalty after unintentionally touching his ball with
his putter on the 14th green.
After looking at television replays, rules officials decided his ball had not
been advanced and his two-putt for a bogey-four would stand.
"I wasn't aware that I nudged the ball," said Pernice, whose last PGA Tour
victory came at the 2001 International.
"The official looked at it a bunch of times and said that it looked like,
when I set my putter down, the ball oscillated and moved back.
"I played nice today but obviously Jeff had a great round."
Twice winner David Toms carded a 71 to finish in a tie for 10th at one under,
two ahead of defending champion Justin Leonard, after a
73.
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