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HONOLULU - South Korea's KJ Choi held his nerve to survive a gruelling day of gusty winds and clinch his seventh PGA Tour golf title by three shots at the Sony Open yesterday.
Four ahead of New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson overnight, Choi ground out a one-over 71 at Waialae Country Club for a 14-under total of 266 and a wire-to-wire victory.
After dropping two shots in the first 13 holes, he finally made his only birdie of the day at the par-five last where he chipped up to less than a metre from the green and rammed home the putt.
South African Rory Sabbatini fired a six-birdie 68 to finish second at 11-under, one stroke in front of American Jerry Kelly, who closed with a bogey-free 67.
Wilkinson, who shot a remarkable eight-under 62 on Sunday, returned an eight-over 78 yesterday to finish in a share of 25th place.
He started yesterday with a bogey and struggled in the wind. He bogeyed the fourth as well and double-bogeyed the par-3 seventh. His back nine also contained four bogeys.
However, considering it was his first tour tournament since he gained his card, the 29-year-old left hander had a respectable finish.
- Reuters
