Sweden's Jesper Parnevik had enough good fortune to hold off a trio of golfers and win the PGA Honda Classic in Coral Springs, Florida yesterday.
With pursuers faltering as well, Parnevik survived a series of bad shots over the final 10 holes and won by a stroke when playing partner Mark Calcavecchia lipped out a par putt at the 18th hole.
Parnevik struggled to an par 72, one of the worst scores of the day at the TPC at Heron Bay. But he never relinquished the lead he established on Thursday and finished at 18-under 270.
A tap-in for bogey at the parfour 18th helped the colourful Swede to his fifth career PGA Tour title and first since he underwent hip surgery last summer.
Seeking his second title of the year, Calcavecchia fired a finalday 70 and shared second with US PGA Tour rookie Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and Craig Perks of New Zealand at 271.
Playing in just his sixth PGA Tour event, Ogilvy had a share of the lead with nine holes left but bogeyed the 15th and 18th to close a round of 69.
HONDA CLASSIC (US unless noted): 270 - J Parnevik (Swe) 65-67-66-72; 271 - M Calcavecchia 67-68-66-70, G Ogilvy (Aus) 65-72-6569, C Perks (Nzl) 67-70-68-66; 273 - J Durant 6771-66-69, J Edwards 69-67-68-69; 274 - S Appleby (Aus) 68-70-67-69, J Furyk 70-72-67-65, K Yokoo (Jpn) 71-69-69-65, S Flesch 69-70-67-68; 275 - F Allem (Rsa) 66-71-68-70, J Daly 71-65-6772, C Smith 67-68-69-71, S Kendall 68-70-67-70, S McCarron 69-71-68-67, T Tolles 71-69-67-68, A Scott 70-68-67-70; 276 - G Hnatiuk (Can) 70-7067-69; 277 - B Langer (Ger) 66-73-68-70, E Toledo (Mex) 69-73-68-67; 278 - C Franco (Par) 69-68-6873; 280 - P-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 71-71-69-69, C Parry (Aus) 73-69-71-67; 281 - G Hjertstedt (Swe) 67-72-73-69; 282 - S Ames (Tri) 70-70-73-69; 283 - M Goggin (Aus) 73-68-67-75.
