Sabbatini victorious in Texas
South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini held off a charging Brian Davis of England to win the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini held off a charging Brian Davis of England to win the HP Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.
Sabbatini, who shared the lead with American John Mallinger through rounds two and three, shot a confident 64, which included five birdies down the back nine, to finish at a 19 under par.
Sabbatini’s 64 was matched by Davis, who played a superb bogey-free round to finish at 17 under par – two behind the South African.
Davis was joint leader from the seventh hole with a string of birdies to the 11th, but Sabbatini kept attacking the pin, reclaiming the lead with a birdie at the 11th.
Davis was also playing aggressive golf, and was rewarded after a stunning 27-foot put found the cup on the 16th for an eagle, bringing him within two of Sabbatini.
Undeterred, Sabbatini answered on the par-3 17th, defending his lead by going on the offence, and firing his tee shot over the water to within 9 feet, to eventually claim a birdie and a three-shot lead.
The South African, who lives in Texas, sealed his fifth win on the Tour with a tournament record 261, despite bogeying the last.
“I can’t do any more than that,” said Davis. “I had a shaky start. I was able to give it a good push but Rory was doing really well.”
Overnight co-leader Mallinger had a nervy start, birdieing two and bogeying two in the first five holes. He parred every hole thereafter, steadying the ship, but sinking any chance of victory, falling to sixth – six shots off the pace.
D.A. Points, on the other hand, had a great day at the office, firing off an eagle and four birdies to finish alone in third – his best finish on the Tour.
He appeared to attribute his success to his support, doffing his hat on the 18th and shouting his thanks to the gallery.
All the final round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour HP Byron Nelson Championship, TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, Irving, Texas, United States of America.
(USA unless stated, par 70):
261 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 68 64 65 64
263 Brian Davis (Eng) 68 65 66 64
264 D.A. Points 68 66 65 65
265 Dustin Johnson 68 65 66 66, Scott McCarron 66 69 68 62
267 John Mallinger 67 65 65 70
268 John Senden (Aus) 71 68 65 64
269 Jeff Maggert 71 66 65 67, Marc Leishman (Aus) 68 70 63 68, Briny Baird 69 64 67 69, Fred Couples 69 66 67 67
270 James Nitties (Aus) 65 68 68 69
271 Danny Lee (Nzl) 69 67 69 66, Glen Day 69 66 65 71, Kevin Streelman 67 69 64 71
272 George McNeill 69 67 66 70, Steve Marino 69 69 66 68, Justin Leonard 75 63 66 68, Vijay Singh (Fij) 70 67 69 66, Robert Garrigus 70 66 69 67, Mike Weir (Can) 66 71 66 69, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 68 69 69 66
273 Michael Letzig 68 68 67 70, Charley Hoffman 71 66 65 71, Chris Riley 71 68 68 66, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 72 67 69 65, Ted Purdy 74 65 66 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 69 69 67 68, Tommy Armour III 67 71 68 67, Tim Wilkinson (Nzl) 69 67 70 67, Charlie Wi (Kor) 73 66 64 70, Jimmy Walker 71 68 69 65, Ken Duke 65 69 71 68, Bryce Molder 68 68 66 71
274 Joe Ogilvie 69 70 68 67, Steve Flesch 70 69 69 66, James Driscoll 67 66 69 72, Greg Owen (Eng) 68 71 68 67
275 Brad Adamonis 66 70 69 70, Kris Blanks 68 71 66 70, John Rollins 72 66 68 69, David Mathis 72 67 67 69, Martin Laird (Sco) 72 67 68 68, Matt Kuchar 70 69 68 68
276 Hunter Mahan 71 68 67 70, Jeff Klauk 72 66 69 69, Nathan Green (Aus) 70 69 66 71, Ben Crane 71 68 71 66, Chris DiMarco 67 69 72 68, Harrison Frazar 73 66 71 66, Charles Howell III 66 69 68 73
277 Davis Love III 73 64 69 71, Colt Knost 67 72 67 71, Brian Bateman 69 70 66 72, Mark Calcavecchia 68 70 75 64, Jay Williamson 68 71 71 67, Troy Matteson 68 69 71 69, Matt Weibring 67 69 71 70, Nicholas Thompson 73 66 64 74
278 Ricky Barnes 69 70 69 70, J J Henry 71 68 66 73, Todd Hamilton 71 67 71 69, Cliff Kresge 70 69 74 65, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 69 67 69 73
279 Robert Allenby (Aus) 67 67 70 75, Notah Begay III 73 65 70 71, Bob Heintz 68 70 73 68, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 67 68 69 75
280 Kent Jones 67 70 74 69, David Berganio Jnr. 72 65 72 71, Jonathan Byrd 68 70 66 76
281 Shaun Micheel 72 67 70 72
283 Aaron Watkins 67 71 69 76
287 James Oh (Kor) 71 68 74 74
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