McNulty doesn't hang around for first seniors win

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Mark McNulty, Ireland's most recent golfing citizen, fired a final round of 68 to record his first victory on the US Champions Tour at the TPC of Tampa Bay, Florida, yesterday.

McNulty's 68 gave him a total of 13-under-par 200 and a one-shot win from Larry Nelson with the fast-finishing Fuzzy Zoeller - who at one stage of his final round had the magical 59 in sight - and Tom Purtzer sharing third place.

McNulty held a three-shot lead coming to the last hole, but a bogey five let Nelson close the gap to one with a birdie three.

Zoeller, however, was the man in form on the final day. The 2002 Seniors champion shot seven birdies on a first nine of 28, and birdies at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th took him to 11-under-par for the round. But he failed to pick up any more shots and a bogey at the last gave him a 61 for 202.

Des Smyth, with a final round of 72, finished on one-over-par 214, while Eamonn Darcy also shot 72 for 220.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Euan Walters shot five birdies in a final round of 68 for a total of nine-under-par 275 and a five-shot win in the Nationwide Tour Jacob's Creek Open at the Kooyonga Golf Club, Adelaide, South Australia, yesterday.

Walters, the overnight leader, did not let up during the final round with Brendan Jones, Wayne Grady and Anthony Painter sharing second place on 280.

Ireland's Richie Coughlan finished on three-over-par 287 after a final round of 70.

PGA TOUR: Mike Weir continued his dominance in the Nissan Classic at the Riviera Club last night. The defending champion held a two-shot lead after 13 holes of yesterday's final round.

Weir, who went to the turn in two-under-par 33, then dropped a shot at the 10th to be at 18 under, which allowed Japan's Shigeki Maruyama to cut the deficit to three. Australia's Stuart Appleby was on 14-under-par.

Tiger Woods finally got his putter working with a final round of 64 for a total of 10-under-par 276.

Woods had four birdies in an outward half of 31 and dropped his only shot of the day at the 12th in an back nine of 33 for 64.