By MARY FOSTER
Associated Press
AVONDALE, La. – Argentina’s Andres Romero walked off the TPC Louisiana a happy man Sunday afternoon. Three hours later, he felt even better.
Romero won the Zurich Classic in his 12th career start on the PGA Tour, closing with a 4-under 68 hours before the other contenders finished en route to a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Peter Lonard.
“I played great these last 36 holes,” Romero said. “I made just one bogey in 36 holes, and it’s not very common for me to make one bogey in two rounds. But that was the key to being here in contention at this tournament.”
Romero, a shot behind John Merrick on Sunday morning after the completion of the third round, had a 13-under 275 total on the TPC Louisiana and earned $1,116,000.
Speaking through an interpreter, Romero said he was very relaxed during the wait to see if his score would hold up.
“I was in the players lounge having some lunch and chatting with my friends,” he said. “I had some lunch and called home and told my mom. They had to do the job, because I had already done mine.”
Lonard had a chance to force a playoff, but missed a long birdie putt on 18.
Lonard opened with a pair birdies, bogeyed Nos. 3 and 10, and birdied Nos. 8, 11, 14 and 16 to tie Romero at 13 under. The Australian’s putt for par on 17 stopped 4 inches shy of the cup, and he then failed to birdie 18.
“I think in a perfect world you’d rather come down the stretch together,” Lonard said. “But I think if there’s ever a chance you’re going to actually shoot the score – if they give you three hours’ notice you probably should be able to if you’re good enough.”
Romero, who opened with a 73 on Thursday, whittled away at the lead with a 69, then shot a 65 in the rain-delayed third round. In the final round, Romero offset a bogey on the sixth hole with five birdies.
The consolation for Lonard – besides the $669,600 second-place money – is that the runner-up finish should get him into the Masters by moving him from No. 72 to No. 50 in the world. The Zurich Classic was the final week to earn a spot at Augusta National through the world ranking.
“Well, I’ve never made a cut at Augusta, so it doesn’t really worry me whether I’m going or not,” Lonard said. “But I would like another go before I die.”
Romero already qualified for the Masters with his third-place finish last summer in the British Open, a result that helped him earn a 2008 PGA Tour card. He’s the fourth consecutive player to notch his first win at the Zurich Classic.
Tim Wilkinson shot a 67 to finish third, two strokes back at 11 under. British Open champion Padraig Harrington (69), Woody Austin (71) and Nicholas Thompson (71) followed at 10 under.
Stewart Cink was disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard after the third round.
Final scores with earnings and relation to par from the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, played March 27-30 at the par-72, 7,341-yard TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La. (Note: FedEx Cup points in parentheses):
| 1. Andres Romero |
(4,500) |
$1,116,000 |
73-69-65-68--275 |
|
-13 |
| 2. Peter Lonard |
(2,700) |
669,600 |
67-70-70-69--276 |
|
-12 |
| 3. Tim Wilkinson |
(1,700) |
421,600 |
71-68-71-67--277 |
|
-11 |
| 4. Padraig Harrington |
(1,033) |
256,267 |
71-70-68-69--278 |
|
-10 |
| 4. Woody Austin |
(1,033) |
256,267 |
69-71-67-71--278 |
|
-10 |
| 4. Nicholas Thompson |
(1,033) |
256,267 |
69-71-67-71--278 |
|
-10 |
| 7. Tim Petrovic |
(779) |
193,233 |
74-68-66-71--279 |
|
-9 |
| 7. John Merrick |
(779) |
193,233 |
72-67-67-73--279 |
|
-9 |
| 7. Tommy Armour III |
(779) |
193,233 |
70-68-75-66--279 |
|
-9 |
| 10. Steve Elkington |
(650) |
161,200 |
68-71-72-69--280 |
|
-8 |
| 10. Marco Dawson |
(650) |
161,200 |
71-68-70-71--280 |
|
-8 |
| 12. WC Liang |
0 |
110,825 |
71-72-69-69--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. Jonathan Byrd |
(447) |
110,825 |
72-71-67-71--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. John Senden |
(447) |
110,825 |
74-69-66-72--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. James Driscoll |
(447) |
110,825 |
75-67-73-66--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. Dudley Hart |
(447) |
110,825 |
73-69-68-71--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. Pat Perez |
(447) |
110,825 |
71-70-71-69--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. Parker McLachlin |
(447) |
110,825 |
72-67-71-71--281 |
|
-7 |
| 12. Briny Baird |
(447) |
110,825 |
67-69-71-74--281 |
|
-7 |
| 20. Jason Bohn |
(302) |
74,813 |
74-68-72-68--282 |
|
-6 |
| 20. Jon Mills |
(302) |
74,813 |
71-70-69-72--282 |
|
-6 |
| 20. Roland Thatcher |
(302) |
74,813 |
70-70-70-72--282 |
|
-6 |
| 23. Charles Warren |
(196) |
48,670 |
70-74-68-71--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Jose Coceres |
(196) |
48,670 |
75-68-68-72--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Craig Barlow |
(196) |
48,670 |
72-71-68-72--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Kenny Perry |
(196) |
48,670 |
71-71-69-72--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Carl Pettersson |
(196) |
48,670 |
71-70-71-71--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Steve Flesch |
(196) |
48,670 |
69-72-71-71--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Carlos Franco |
(196) |
48,670 |
71-70-72-70--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Nathan Green |
(196) |
48,670 |
71-69-71-72--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Jeff Maggert |
(196) |
48,670 |
70-70-71-72--283 |
|
-5 |
| 23. Cameron Beckman |
(196) |
48,670 |
68-71-75-69--283 |
|
-5 |
| 33. Jeff Quinney |
(124) |
30,724 |
71-73-70-70--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Bob Estes |
(124) |
30,724 |
72-72-68-72--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Chip Sullivan |
0 |
30,724 |
76-68-72-68--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Daniel Chopra |
(124) |
30,724 |
71-73-66-74--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Tom Pernice, Jr. |
(124) |
30,724 |
73-71-71-69--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Mark Calcavecchia |
(124) |
30,724 |
71-71-73-69--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Todd Hamilton |
(124) |
30,724 |
70-70-69-75--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Brian Davis |
(124) |
30,724 |
71-68-73-72--284 |
|
-4 |
| 33. Jay Williamson |
(124) |
30,724 |
68-69-72-75--284 |
|
-4 |
| 42. Jin Park |
(80) |
19,949 |
70-74-72-69--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Kevin Sutherland |
(80) |
19,949 |
71-71-70-73--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. John Mallinger |
(80) |
19,949 |
69-73-72-71--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Patrick Sheehan |
(80) |
19,949 |
69-73-70-73--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Ted Purdy |
(80) |
19,949 |
70-71-72-72--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Dean Wilson |
(80) |
19,949 |
66-73-75-71--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Chez Reavie |
(80) |
19,949 |
67-72-74-72--285 |
|
-3 |
| 42. Nick Watney |
(80) |
19,949 |
71-67-76-71--285 |
|
-3 |
| 50. Mathias Gronberg |
(59) |
14,738 |
75-69-72-70--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Robert Karlsson |
0 |
14,738 |
70-73-72-71--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Frank Lickliter II |
(59) |
14,738 |
72-71-72-71--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Mathew Goggin |
(59) |
14,738 |
73-70-71-72--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Brian Bateman |
(59) |
14,738 |
73-70-69-74--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Rocco Mediate |
(59) |
14,738 |
70-70-73-73--286 |
|
-2 |
| 50. Shigeki Maruyama |
(59) |
14,738 |
70-68-75-73--286 |
|
-2 |
| 57. Scott Sterling |
(55) |
13,640 |
71-73-72-71--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. Robert Gamez |
(55) |
13,640 |
70-74-75-68--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. Retief Goosen |
(55) |
13,640 |
73-71-74-69--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. Zach Johnson |
(55) |
13,640 |
72-71-74-70--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. Bubba Dickerson |
0 |
13,640 |
70-73-75-69--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. J.J. Henry |
(55) |
13,640 |
74-68-69-76--287 |
|
-1 |
| 57. Justin Bolli |
(55) |
13,640 |
74-68-73-72--287 |
|
-1 |
| 64. Paul Goydos |
(52) |
12,834 |
74-70-71-73--288 |
|
E |
| 64. Johnson Wagner |
(52) |
12,834 |
71-72-76-69--288 |
|
E |
| 64. Chris Stroud |
(52) |
12,834 |
72-71-73-72--288 |
|
E |
| 64. Matt Jones |
(52) |
12,834 |
74-68-74-72--288 |
|
E |
| 64. Mark Hensby |
(52) |
12,834 |
74-68-70-76--288 |
|
E |
| 64. Troy Matteson |
(52) |
12,834 |
69-73-72-74--288 |
|
E |
| 70. George McNeill |
(49) |
12,152 |
71-73-72-73--289 |
+ |
1 |
| 70. Cliff Kresge |
(49) |
12,152 |
75-68-70-76--289 |
+ |
1 |
| 70. Bubba Watson |
(49) |
12,152 |
73-69-75-72--289 |
+ |
1 |
| 70. Harrison Frazar |
(49) |
12,152 |
69-73-71-76--289 |
+ |
1 |
| 70. Tim Clark |
(49) |
12,152 |
73-66-74-76--289 |
+ |
1 |
| 75. Alex Cejka |
(47) |
11,656 |
72-72-75-71--290 |
+ |
2 |
| 75. Jonathan Kaye |
(47) |
11,656 |
74-70-75-71--290 |
+ |
2 |
| 75. Joe Durant |
(47) |
11,656 |
69-71-77-73--290 |
+ |
2 |
| 78. Rich Beem |
(46) |
11,408 |
73-71-73-74--291 |
+ |
3 |
| 79. Brandt Jobe |
(46) |
11,284 |
70-74-76-72--292 |
+ |
4 |
| 80. Brett Rumford |
(45) |
11,160 |
72-72-72-77--293 |
+ |
5 |
| • • • |
|
|
|
|
|
| Missed the cut |
|
|
|
|
|
| 82. Jason Gore |
|
|
76-69--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Tag Ridings |
|
|
70-75--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Brenden Pappas |
|
|
75-70--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Charlie Wi |
|
|
73-72--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Toru Taniguchi |
|
|
71-74--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Brett Quigley |
|
|
71-74--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Vaughn Taylor |
|
|
68-77--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Bob Tway |
|
|
71-74--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Jesper Parnevik |
|
|
76-69--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Chad Campbell |
|
|
75-70--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Steve Stricker |
|
|
70-75--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 82. Marc Turnesa |
|
|
70-75--145 |
+ |
1 |
| 94. Jeff Gove |
|
|
71-75--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Mike Weir |
|
|
71-75--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. John Riegger |
|
|
74-72--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Steve Lowery |
|
|
73-73--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Matt Kuchar |
|
|
73-73--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Jeff Overton |
|
|
75-71--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Anthony Kim |
|
|
73-73--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 94. Kevin Streelman |
|
|
71-75--146 |
+ |
2 |
| 102. Steve Marino |
|
|
75-72--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Scott McCarron |
|
|
74-73--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Alejandro Canizares |
|
|
72-75--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Lucas Glover |
|
|
74-73--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Garrett Willis |
|
|
71-76--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Will MacKenzie |
|
|
74-73--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Brian Gay |
|
|
73-74--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Ryan Armour |
|
|
76-71--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 102. Chad Collins |
|
|
74-73--147 |
+ |
3 |
| 111. Michael Allen |
|
|
74-74--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 111. Tom Lehman |
|
|
75-73--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 111. Rod Pampling |
|
|
73-75--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 111. Jason Day |
|
|
75-73--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 111. Kevin Na |
|
|
77-71--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 111. Olin Browne |
|
|
75-73--148 |
+ |
4 |
| 117. Larry Mize |
|
|
73-76--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Charley Hoffman |
|
|
76-73--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Billy Mayfair |
|
|
74-75--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Bo Van Pelt |
|
|
72-77--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Jim Furyk |
|
|
75-74--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Stephen Leaney |
|
|
74-75--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Kevin Stadler |
|
|
72-77--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 117. Dustin Johnson |
|
|
76-73--149 |
+ |
5 |
| 125. Ken Duke |
|
|
77-73--150 |
+ |
6 |
| 125. Martin Laird |
|
|
77-73--150 |
+ |
6 |
| 125. Joe Ogilvie |
|
|
75-75--150 |
+ |
6 |
| 125. Robert Garrigus |
|
|
77-73--150 |
+ |
6 |
| 125. John Daly |
|
|
73-77--150 |
+ |
6 |
| 130. Shane Bertsch |
|
|
78-73--151 |
+ |
7 |
| 130. Chris DiMarco |
|
|
75-76--151 |
+ |
7 |
| 130. Davis Love III |
|
|
76-75--151 |
+ |
7 |
| 130. Kenneth Ferrie |
|
|
74-77--151 |
+ |
7 |
| 130. Y.E. Yang |
|
|
72-79--151 |
+ |
7 |
| 135. Eric Axley |
|
|
73-79--152 |
+ |
8 |
| 135. Nick Flanagan |
|
|
74-78--152 |
+ |
8 |
| 137. Ryuji Imada |
|
|
76-77--153 |
+ |
9 |
| 137. Todd Demsey |
|
|
78-75--153 |
+ |
9 |
| 137. Fredrik Jacobson |
|
|
77-76--153 |
+ |
9 |
| 140. Martin Rominger |
|
|
77-77--154 |
+ |
10 |
| 141. David Duval |
|
|
77-79--156 |
+ |
12 |
| 141. Phil Schmitt |
|
|
74-82--156 |
+ |
12 |
| 143. Jim McGovern |
|
|
80-78--158 |
+ |
14 |
| 143. Steve Allan |
|
|
79-79--158 |
+ |
14 |
Posted: 3/30/2008
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