Friday, April 25, 2008

WEEKLEY DEFENDS VERIZON TITLE

WEEKLEY DEFENDS VERIZON TITLE

Boo Weekley successfully defended his Verizon Heritage title at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina after a even-par final round proved enough for a three-stroke victory.

Weekley carded a 71 to finish 15 under but none of his challengers could make the necessary move to overhaul him.

Aaron Baddeley, the 2006 winner of this event, finished joint runner-up after a two-under 69 alongside Anthony Kim (71) with Ryder Cup star Jim Furyk a further shot back in fourth.

Nick Dougherty lost his chance of a career-best finish on American soil when a family illness led to him pulling out before the final round.

The 25-year-old from Liverpool, who was leading until running up a quadruple-bogey eight late in his second round, had been in joint 10th place after 54 holes.

It followed the earlier withdrawal of fellow Englishman Justin Rose with back trouble.

Dougherty was seeking to improve on his seventh place in last year's US Open and the event could also have given his Ryder Cup hopes a big boost because of the world ranking points on offer.

Londoner Brian Davis, who began the day 27th, finished in a share of 23rd after a 70 left him four under.

Collated final round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour Verizon Heritage, Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 71):

269 Boo Weekley 69 64 65 71

272 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 69 67 67 69, Anthony Kim 67 67 67 71

273 Jim Furyk 68 68 68 69

274 Cliff Kresge 69 66 68 71

275 Jason Bohn 70 66 67 72

276 Michael Letzig 68 73 70 65, Lucas Glover 66 66 73 71, Stewart Cink 67 68 70 71, Matt Kuchar 71 70 68 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 71 71 67

277 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67 73 67, Charles Howell III 67 71 69 70

278 Billy Andrade 69 72 68 69, John Rollins 67 71 71 69, Robert Allenby (Aus) 70 66 71 71

279 Kevin Na (Kor) 71 67 73 68, Justin Leonard 66 71 72 70, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 67 70 72, Shane Bertsch 71 71 66 71, Briny Baird 68 69 76 66, D.J. Trahan 68 70 75 66

280 Brian Davis (Eng) 67 74 69 70, Dean Wilson 69 71 70 70, Robert Garrigus 70 69 71 70, John Senden (Aus) 74 67 72 67, Woody Austin 69 72 71 68, Marc Turnesa 69 67 73 71

281 Ben Crane 69 71 70 71, Steve Flesch 70 71 70 70, Ken Duke 68 69 71 73, Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 70 69 72, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 68 69 71 73, Stephen Ames (Can) 71 64 74 72, Frank Lickliter II 72 69 69 71

282 Davis Love III 66 71 69 76, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 67 74 70 71, Jonathan Byrd 69 67 72 74, Rocco Mediate 74 65 71 72, Heath Slocum 71 67 73 71

283 Bob Tway 71 72 71 69, Nathan Green (Aus) 74 69 69 71, Billy Mayfair 70 71 72 70, Lee Janzen 69 70 71 73, Ben Curtis 69 68 75 71

284 Ryan Armour 71 69 75 69, Michael Allen 68 69 73 74, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 73 69 72 70

285 Jeff Quinney 69 72 71 73, Corey Pavin 72 71 69 73, Bo Van Pelt 69 73 71 72, John Mallinger 70 69 71 75

286 Brandt Snedeker 70 70 70 76, Parker McLachlin 69 68 74 75, Scott Verplank 68 71 74 73, Mark Wilson 69 72 74 71

287 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 69 72 74 72, Jonathan Moore 70 72 73 72, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 73 74 71, Peter Lonard (Aus) 68 72 74 73

288 Brett Quigley 72 68 74 74, Chris DiMarco 73 69 74 72, David Toms 72 70 73 73

289 Patrick Sheehan 69 68 79 73, Tim Herron 67 74 74 74, Jay Williamson 67 69 73 80, Glen Day 71 70 72 76, J.L. Lewis 71 71 75 72, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 69 73 75 72

291 Nick Flanagan (Aus) 73 70 74 74

292 Nicholas Thompson 71 72 73 76

293 Will MacKenzie 74 69 73 77

295 Greg Kraft 73 70 76 76, Matthew Jones (Aus) 74 69 77 75