| Braselton,
Georgia. 8th November 1998
- Dudley Hart, who had won only once in eight years on the PGA Tour, shot a 3-under-par
69 Sunday to overtake Bob Tway and win the Sarazen World Open by four strokes.
Hart, who won the
1996 Canadian Open, had a 272 total to earn the $360,000 first prize in the non-PGA
Tour event worth $2 million. Hart,
who was married late in July, delayed his honeymoon until this event ended. He
and wife, Suzanne, leave for Mexico on Monday. "We're
leaving bright and early tomorrow morning," said Hart, who is heading to
Cabo San Lucas. "She
wanted a summer wedding, but didn't mind waiting until the end of the golf season
to enjoy the honeymoon," said Hart, adding he was not taking his golf clubs.
"I had
extra incentive this week," joked the 30-year-old. "The hotel we've
staying at is not cheap." Suzanne,
however, was not on hand to enjoy the moment. "She's
back home (in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)," said Hart. "She's probably at
the mall now." Tway,
who led Hart by one stroke entering the final round, shot a 74 over the par 72,
6,993-yard Legends course at Chateu Elan. He wound up at 276. Hart,
whose best finish this season was a tie for third at the Western Open, got even
with Tway at the par 4, 423-yard first hole when he made par and Tway bogeyed.
Hart took the lead for good by two strokes when Tway had a double-bogey on the
fourth hole. Tway
never got any closer the rest of the dreary, chilly day in which a light rain
fell for most of the round and the temperature barely reached 50. "I
didn't play very well today. I didn't even put any pressure on Dudley," said
Tway, who hasn't won since 1995, but was 24th on the money-list this year with
just over $1 million. "He
(Hart) did exactly what you need to do on the last day. He hit the ball nicely.
He had a lot of opportunities and played a nice round where I did not," he
said. Two-time
Masters champion Bernhard Langer shot a 68 and was third at 277. John Huston,
who won at Disney two weeks ago, had the day's best round -- a 65 -- and was next
at 278. Andrew Coltart
of Scotland and Miguel Angel Jiménez tied for fifth at 279. Coltart had a
69 and Jimenez a 71. Hart,
who earned a career-best $553,729 on the PGA Tour this year, tied the tournament
record Saturday with a 62. On Sunday, his steady round included four birdies and
one bogey. Edward
Fryatt, who led after two rounds before fading with an 11-over Saturday, was far
back at 290 after a 73. Defending
champion Mark Calcavecchia shot a 76 for 292 in this tournament that brings
together the past two champions from open tourneys around the world, and several
Sarazen selections. Two-time
winner Frank Nobilo of New Zealand (1995-96) had an 81 and was at 307, 19-over
and last among the 56 players who made the cut. Divots:
Gene Sarazen, 96, was honored with a plaque after the tournament. It was presented
to him by Hart and the inscription on the plaque read: "To Gene Sarazen,
thank you for many contributions to this great game, not only as a player, but
as the world's ambassador of golf." | 
