Slocum gains first PGA Tour win

A couple of tantalizing near-misses taught Heath Slocum something about finishing a tournament.

The lessons came in handy Sunday when Slocum won a showdown between two PGA Tour non-winners, parring the 18th hole for a one-shot victory over Aaron Baddeley at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson.

The 30-year-old Slocum carded a final-round 7-under-par 65, finishing at 22-under 266 -- the lowest score at Tucson National since Dave Frost's 266 in 1988. The outcome turned on Slocum's play on the difficult 18th hole, which Baddeley three-putted for bogey for the first time in the tournament.

In 2002, Slocum led the tournament after 54 holes, but managed only par golf the last day. Months later, he led by a stroke at Hilton Head with three holes to go before a double bogey dropped him behind winner Justin Leonard.

"I took the experience from two years ago, and from Hilton Head two years ago and from Milwaukee last year (tied for second)," Slocum said. "Coming down and just playing my game, and it worked out this time. It really felt good."

Slocum earned his first title in 78 starts when the 22-year-old Baddeley missed a 5-foot par putt that would have forced a playoff. The bogey -- Baddeley's first since the second round -- left him with a 66.

"You don't want to three-putt to lose," said Baddeley, whose second shot on No. 18 stopped about 50 feet from the pin. "But I putted up a hill. It was into the grain, left to right, and it really wasn't that slow. And then I hit a good putt on the way down, and it just didn't go in."

Slocum's approach shot on the water-guarded, 465-yard finishing hole wound up 15 feet from the cup. The Louisiana native sent his first putt within tap-in range, holed out and stepped back to watch Baddeley.

Slocum, who led after two rounds and was tied with Baddeley at 15 under to start, smiled and hugged his caddie when play ended.

The $540,000 winner's share gave Slocum, who was 80th on the money list, $640,604 in six events. His best previous finish this season was a tie for 14th at Phoenix. He also earned a spot in the 2005 Mercedes Championships with the win.

Rory Sabbatini (64), Harrison Frazar (66) and Mark Hensby (68) finished four shots back, with Per-Ulrik Johansson (68) and Bill Glasson (68) at 271.

Mike Heinen, who played in the final threesome, bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 70, slipping into a tie with Tim Clark, Todd Fischer and Carlos Franco at 272.

Defending champion Frank Lickliter II, whose opening 63 stood up as the best round of the tournament, finished with a 69 and 277, good for a seven-way tie for 27th.

The final round evolved into match play between Slocum and Baddeley, who is winless in 47 events. No more than a shot separated the two through the round.

"I honestly didn't look at the leaderboard," Slocum said. "Obviously, I knew what Aaron was doing, and whether somebody was lighting it up in front of us, I didn't know."

The crowd-pleasing Baddeley, dressed in a purple shirt and spotless white pants, put on a putting display early -- sinking three of his six birdies from 26 to 28 feet away.

He saved his best for the stretch -- rolling in the 28-footer on the 14th hole to take the lead at 22 under while Slocum struggled to save par after hitting an iron shot into a bunker on the left side.

But Slocum blasted a wedge within 2 feet, made par and got even on No. 16, sending a 13-foot birdie putt into the heart of the cup.

Slocum and Baddeley each birdied four of the first five holes and added one more birdie before the turn. They made the turn at 20 under, with only Heinen within two shots.

Slocum made it three when he two-putted from 40 feet for a birdie on the par-5 10th, but Baddeley caught up at No. 11, making a 16-foot putt from the fringe. That forced Slocum, who also had to wedge out of sand on the hole, to sink a 14-footer for par to stay in step.

"I was surprised," Baddeley said. "I thought more guys were going to hang with us. We both played really good, shot for shot."

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