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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 23, 2006

Durant ends five-year winless streak

Associated Press

Durant

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Joe Durant's latest PGA Tour title was memorable for his entire family.

Durant spent the last 10 days at Disney World, visiting every theme park with his wife and two children. They got to see Mickey Mouse up close yesterday, when the famed character presented Durant with the Funai Classic trophy.

The kids were delighted. Dad may have been even more ecstatic after ending a five-year winless streak on tour.

Durant shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 in the final round at Disney, finished 25 under and picked up his first tour victory since March 2001.

"I knew the kind of round you needed to play on the last day to win, especially when the scores are low, and I was fortunate to do that," he said.

Durant beat rookie Troy Matteson (70) and Frank Lickliter II (62) by four strokes. First- and second-round leader Justin Rose (69) was fourth at 20 under.

The 42-year-old Durant won his fourth career event. He earned $828,000 — the biggest paycheck of his career — and vaulted to 29th on the money list, in position to earn a spot in next month's Tour Championship.

ELSEWHERE

AT&T Championship: Fred Funk won for the first time in three Champions Tour starts yesterday, birdieing three of the last four holes for a 2-under 69 and a one-stroke victory in the AT&T Championship at San Antonio. The 50-year-old Funk had a 12-under 201 total on the Oak Hills Country Club course. Chip Beck (65—202) was second and Scott Simpson (69—203) third.

Honda LPGA Thailand: South Korea's Hee-Won Han won her sixth career LPGA Tour title yesterday, closing with a 5-under 67 for a five-stroke victory over Diana D'Alessio in the inaugural Honda LPGA Thailand at Chonburi. Han finished at 14-under 202 on the Amata Spring Country Club course for her second victory of the year.

PalmettoPride Classic: Michael Sim and Ken Duke will have to wait until today to determine who wins the Nationwide Tour event at Charleston, S.C. A weather delay pushed play back yesterday and darkness fell before Sim finished. Duke (65) is in the clubhouse at 12 under and is tied with Sim, who has two holes to play.