Defending champion Toms surges to six-shot victory

Golf Digest: Defending champion David Toms retained his St Jude Classic yesterday, a closing two-over-par 73 earning him victory by six shots.

American Toms, the 2001 U.S. PGA champion, went into a windswept final day seven clear of the field and finished at 16-under 268.

Toms had to skip the first two tournaments of the 2004 PGA Tour season after undergoing wrist surgery and then missed the cut six times in his first 10 starts of the year.

Bob Estes carded a 69 for second place with Steve Lowery (67) and Tim Herron (70) a further stroke back in a tie for third at nine under.

With a forecast of severe thunderstorms and 50 mph winds for the last round, the field teed off early and were grouped in threeballs instead of in pairs.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Play was suspended yesterday at the US Senior PGA championship at Valahlla because of heavy rain. The field completed their third round with Hale Irwin sitting on top of the leaderboard after posting a one under par 70 for a three round total of seven under par 206.

The American holsd a one stroke lead over Canadian Dave Barr. Mark McNulty is on one over par 214, Eamonn Darcy on four over and Des Smyth on nine over 222.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: Richie Coughlan finished well down the field in the Carolina Classic after a disappointing final round of 78 left him on five over par 289.

Chris Anderson won the event at the eighth tie holes after a four-way play-off with Jason Buha, Brendan Jones and Paul Gow. The four had tied on 13 under par 271.

LPGA TOUR: Annika Sorenstam captured her 51st title at the LPGA Corning Classic. Sorenstam finished the tournament at 18-under-par 270 after a final round of 68, two strokes ahead of third-round leader Michelle Estill and Vicki-Goetze Ackerman.

LPGA EUROPEAN TOUR: Welsh rookie Becky Brewerton had to settle for third place in the Union Fenosa Open de Espana yesterday after her putting let her down.

Brewerton, who was looking to become the first rookie on the LET to win since 2001, hit 15 greens in regulation and was disappointed, despite claiming her fourth top-three finish on the LET.

Brewerton, who made three birdies in the last six holes but missed an eight footer on the last that would have taken her into a three-way play-off, took third spot alone on eight-under-par after a 71.

It was her second top three finish of the season but she could not take full advantage of her laser-like iron play on the back nine as her putter went cold at the wrong time and Frenchwoman Stephanie Arricau won her maiden title on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour.

Arricau beat New Zealander Gina Scott at the first extra hole after a thrilling final round.