Carlos Franco of Paraguay watched as the wheels come off for local favourite Jerry Kelly yesterday, then rolled to his second victory in as many months on the PGA Tour.
Franco took advantage of a five-shot swing in three holes on the front side, converting back-to-back birdies while Wisconsin resident Kelly had three straight bogeys, to win by two shots at the Greater Milwaukee Open.
Franco, who was one of only eight players here who will play at Carnoustie this week, tuned up for golf's oldest major championship by setting the 72-hole scoring record at this event with a total of 20-under-par 264.
Tom Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion, notched his third runner-up showing of the year as he ended up alone at 18-under 266. Kelly, who was born and lives in Madison, Wisconsin, about 75 miles west of Milwaukee, finished four shots behind Franco.
Kelly started the day with a one-shot advantage over Franco and saw his lead grow to two shots after a birdie at the fourth hole pushed him to 18-under. The tournament began to turn in Franco's favour at the par-five sixth hole, where Franco birdied and Kelly recorded his first bogey of the week to fall into a tie for the lead.
The $414,000 first prize pushed Franco to seventh on the money list with over $1.38 million. His initial PGA victory came in May at the Compaq Classic.
Kelly, who shot no worse than 66 in the first three rounds, trudged his way to an even-par 71. He has still not won in four years on tour.
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