Rookie Johnson Captures NIKE Florida Classic

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Richard Johnson fired a final-round 69 to win the $225,000 inaugural NIKE Florida Classic at Gainesville Country Club by two strokes over Bobby Wadkins.

“It has been a fun week,” said Johnson, who finished with a 14-under-par total of 270. “I wasn’t fully expecting to win, especially the way I struggled around the course today. But it all worked out for me.

“The tournament was run very well,” continued Johnson, a NIke Tour rookie who won for the first time on Sunday. “The golf course was great especially with all the rain they had on Wednesday night. The course really held up nicely.

“All in all, it was a wonderful week."

Wadkins, who has six second-place finishes on the PGA Tour, fired a 3-under-par 68 to claim sole possession of second place.

Sharing third at 11-under-par 273 were Joel Edwards, who led the NIKE Florida Classic after 36 holes, and Ashley Chinner. Edwards, who was only one stroke out of the lead going into the final round, fired an even-par 71 Sunday while Chinner shot 70.

Tied for fifth place at 10-under-par 274 were Don Reese and Greg Lesher (72). Reese fired Sunday's low round with a 5-under-par 66 and moved up from a tie for 28th.

Matt Gogel (69), the winner of two Nike Tour events in 1998, tied for seventh at 9 under with Roger Rowland (66) and Paul Claxton (69).

Sharing 10th place at 8-under-par 276 were Steve Ford (67), Kris Cox (68), Joey Snyder III (69) and Joe Daley (71). Ten golfers were deadlocked in 14th at 277.

The Nike Tour’s next stop is the $250,000 NIKE Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic, which will be played Feb. 18-21 at The Oaks Golf Club in Pass Christian, Miss.