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Beckman gains narrow
victory
Cameron Beckman didn't know
he had it in him.
``I was impressed with myself,''
the 31-year-old said Sunday after making up a three-stroke deficit over the final
five holes to win the Southern Farm Bureau Classic for his first PGA Tour victory.
``I didn't know if I was
capable of that. Now, I know.''
Beckman, who earned his
tour card in qualifying school the past three years, birdied three of the final
five holes in a 67 that gave him a 19-under 269 total, one stroke ahead of Chad
Campbell.
Campbell, playing his second
PGA tournament since earning a promotion for winning three Buy.com events this
year, shot a 71 after starting the final round at the Annandale Golf Club with
a two-shot lead.
``I'm very happy with the
way I played I just wished today I would have made a few more putts,'' said Campbell,
who has played in seven PGA tournaments in his career.
Beckman had an up-and-down
start, making four birdies and two bogeys on the front nine playing with Campbell,
who was making few mistakes.
``I was sort of wishy-washy
at the turn,'' Beckman said.
He said he was rejuvenated
after par-saving putts on Nos. 11 and 12.
``I told my caddie as we
were walking up 13 'He (Campbell) has got to start feeling it at some point. If
I can just start making some birdies, I've got a shot,''' he said.
Beckman was at 16-under
heading to No. 14, but he birdied the hole to gain two strokes on Campbell, the
leading money-winner on the Buy.com Tour this season, who bogeyed.
Beckman made a 30-foot birdie
putt on 15 and Campbell parred to leave both at 18-under. On the par-4 409-yard
17th Beckman took the lead for good.
He left his approach about
15 feet to the right of the hole, while Campbell's landed about 30 feet above
it just on the fringe. Beckman coolly made his putt to go to 19-under and Campbell
two-putted for par.
Beckman and Campbell, both
long hitters, laid up on the par-5, 532-yard 18th. Campbell said he was about
249 yards from the hole and Beckman was about 10 yards closer.
For a moment though, Campbell
thought about going for it and pulled a 3-wood from his bag with cheers coming
from the approving gallery.
``I'm not one who likes
to lay up on a par-5,'' the 27-year-old said. ``I heard them. I wanted to hit
a 3-wood as bad as they did.''
But with the wind in his
face he decided not to risk hitting into the water and went with a 6-iron.
Campbell's third shot hit
below the pin and spun back to the fringe about 35 feet away. Beckman's third
shot hit just above the pin and spun back about 8 feet to the left of the hole.
When Campbell left his long
putt short, Beckman was able to two putt for par and the title.
Fred Funk had a 68 and finished 271, one shot ahead of Dan Forsman, who had a
69.
Beckman nearly withdrew
from the tournament Wednesday because of a stiff neck. He was No. 80 on the money
list coming in, but the $432,000 check jumped him to No. 50.
Many in the field of the
final PGA event of the season were scrambling to move up the money list and earn
playing privileges for next season. The top 125 earn full playing status for next
season.
No one was rooting for Beckman
more than Woody Austin, who entered the weekend No. 123 on the money list but
finished tied for 73rd in the tournament.
If Campbell had won it would
have vaulted him into the top 125. Instead, Austin managed to hold on to the 125th
spot by less than $100 over Bradley Hughes, who held that spot when the tournament
began. Hughes finished tied for 67th and ended up 126th in earnings.
``There's no way you should
put yourself through this every single day, every single year,'' said the 37-year-old
Austin, who watched Campbell and Beckman play the 18th.
``That's why he was standing
there,'' Beckman said.
Also squeaking into the
top 125 was Brandt Jobe, despite a terrible Sunday during which he shot a 6-over
78. Jobe, who was 126th coming in, earned enough with his 28th-place finish to
move up two spots and retain his card.
Forsman's strong finish
jumped him from 137th on the money list to 114th.
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