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Monday October 6, 8:43 AM

America's Johnson wins Turning Stone golfing Championship


Photo: AFP
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VERONA, New York (AFP) - Dustin Johnson birdied his last two holes and claimed his first PGA Tour title Sunday with a victory in the six million-dollar Turning Stone Resort Championship.

Johnson carded a three-under 69 for nine-under-par total of 279 that put him one stroke in front of Australian Robert Allenby.

"I don't really quite know what's going on yet," Johnson said. "Obviously it's a great feeling. I feel like I've worked real hard the last month to get my game in shape to be in the position to win a tournament, so I'm very excited."

Mingled with the excitement was the relief of knowing he had secured his playing privileges for next season.

"That's a big relief. Coming into the week I obviously was 128 on the money list," he said. "I was playing really well, so I wasn't like, you know, scared or nervous about not having my card. But it's definitely a big relief."

Allenby carded a two-under 70, but he couldn't manufacture a birdie on the back nine and suffered a costly bogey at the 15th.

Starting the day two shots off the lead, Allenby was three-under on the front nine thanks to birdies at two, three and five.

He led with four holes to play, but in the end it was Johnson, playing his first full season on the US tour, who came through in the clutch.

He had five birdies in the round, capped by his birdie-birdie finish to claim the 1.08 million-dollar first prize.

Johnson kickstarted his round with a 40-foot birdie putt at the par-three sixth, and picked up another shot at the par-five eighth.

A bogey at 13, where he hit in the water, saw him slip back from Allenby, but the Australian bogeyed 15 to open the door.

"That was kind of the point where I knew that I had a chance," Johnson said.

He kept his momentum with an up and down from a bunker at 16, then birdied the last two.

"I hit a very good drive," he said of the last. "I was in between my rescue and my three-iron, so I played rescue. Hit it good just right at the flag. It was a hair long, and hit a pretty good chip and then had about a 12-footer straight up the hill and made it."

Johnson said he benefitted from playing with Allenby.

"That did help," he said. "Robert played really well today. Unfortunately had a couple putts he couldn't get to go in. It was definitely a lot of fun."

Seven players were tied for third on 281, including veteran Davis Love and Charles Howell - who started the day tied for the lead and settled for a one-over 73.

Tag Ridings, who shared the overnight lead, imploded in his final 18 holes, carding four bogeys and a double-bogey at the 13th en route to a 79 for 287.

 


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