Tuesday, July 29, 2008

REAVIE EARNS MAIDEN WIN

REAVIE EARNS MAIDEN WIN

Little-known Chez Reavie had the world of golf asking "Whose he?" after he overcame a shaky start in Sunday's final round to grab his first PGA Tour victory at the the Canadian Open.

Reavie carded a one-under-par 70 to finish three strokes ahead of Tour veteran Billy Mayfair (68).

Holding a one-shot lead after completing his third round earlier on Sunday, Reavie shrugged off two bogeys in his first three holes to finish at 17-under 267 overall.

The American, who turned professional in 2004, pocketed US dollars 900,000 (Ј452 785) for his victory and earned a two-year exemption.

In his first full year on the tour, Reavie became the first player without a previous tournament victory to win this event since Jerry Pate in 1976.

He was the most unlikely victor, having posted a career-best fifth-place finish at the Bob Chrysler Classic in January but failing to finished better than 34th in his 19 events since then.

Sean O'Hair (68) and Steve Marino (70) tied for third place at 271.

Canadian Mike Weir was unable to capitalise on the home-course advantage, signing for a 69 to finish in a three-way tie at 12-under 272.

Anthony Kim, who was paired with Reavie and trailed by one shot following a seven-under 64 yesterday, soared to a 75 to finish six shots off the pace.

Seeking his third win of the year, Kim struggled the entire day, carding five bogeys and one birdie in his round.

That came after he played 21 holes yesterday in 11 under par.

Collated final-round scores (USA unless stated, par 71):

267 Chez Reavie 65 64 68 70

270 Billy Mayfair 68 66 68 68

271 Steve Marino 67 67 67 70, Sean O'Hair 65 71 67 68

272 Scott McCarron 66 72 63 71, Mike Weir (Can) 65 70 68 69, Nicholas Thompson 67 66 70 69

273 Kevin Na 69 66 70 68, Anthony Kim 65 69 64 75, Glen Day 71 70 64 68

274 Ken Duke 68 67 69 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 68 70 67 69, Briny Baird 69 65 71 69

275 Brian Davis (Eng) 69 64 70 72, Charlie Wi (Kor) 69 69 67 70, Bob Estes 68 73 65 69, Mark Calcavecchia 70 66 67 72, Jim Furyk 70 68 67 70, Carlos Franco (Par) 67 68 69 71

276 Eric Axley 65 67 73 71, Fred Couples 69 69 70 68

277 Kent Jones 71 70 69 67, Omar Uresti 72 68 69 68, Ryan Palmer 71 70 68 68, John Huston 65 72 68 72, Martin Laird 71 67 69 70, Mark Wilson 71 69 69 68

278 Charley Hoffman 69 70 71 68, Corey Pavin 71 70 69 68

279 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 73 68 65 73, Steve Flesch 68 67 69 75, Todd Hamilton 69 68 69 73, Kevin Sutherland 70 71 69 69, Parker McLachlin 69 69 68 73, Shane Bertsch 67 73 68 71, Kevin Streelman 68 67 71 73

280 Jerry Kelly 67 70 71 72, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 68 72 71, Y. E Yang (Kor) 68 68 73 71, Bill Haas 68 68 71 73, Todd Demsey 69 70 72 69, Steve Allan (Aus) 68 69 68 75, Tom Pernice Jnr. 71 65 75 69

281 Bob Tway 74 67 70 70, Robert Garrigus 70 71 72 68, Tim Petrovic 69 72 72 68, J.P. Hayes 67 73 70 71

282 Joe Durant 71 68 72 71, Chad Collins 75 66 70 71, Jason Dufner 72 69 70 71, Ben Curtis 70 68 73 71, Jason null Day (Aus) 65 75 69 73

283 Andrew Buckle (Aus) 69 70 70 74, Ryan Armour 67 73 71 72, Camilo Villegas (Col) 71 68 72 72, Nick Taylor (Can) 70 70 72 71, Frank Lickliter II 69 72 72 70

284 Dudley Hart 68 70 70 76, David Hearn (Can) 69 72 69 74, Ted Purdy 68 71 73 72, Cliff Kresge 69 66 76 73, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 69 73 73

285 Patrick Sheehan 70 68 73 74, Michael Letzig 68 73 71 73, Jeff Quinney 69 71 72 73, Scott Sterling 72 69 72 72, Bryan Decorso (Can) 74 67 70 74

286 Jason Allred 67 72 73 74

287 Nick Flanagan (Aus) 73 68 70 76

288 Jeff Maggert 68 73 71 76

291 Cameron Beckman 68 70 75 78


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REAVIE TAKES LEAD IN CANADA