Berganio wins by two shots in Texas

David Berganio fired a two-under-par 70 on Sunday to win the Nike Permian Basin Open by two strokes over Dicky Thompson, who led after the first three rounds, and Paul Gow.

The victory was the second of Berganio's career on the Nike Tour and netted him the first prize of $40,500, moving him up from 61st to 22nd on the money list. His other Nike Tour title came in the 1996 Monterrey Open.

"Today I went out and won this tournament. I wasn't nervous all day," said Berganio, who finished with a four-day total of 19-under- par 269 and was second to Thompson in each of the previous three rounds. "I was waiting to get nervous but it never happened."

Thompson, who opened the event with a course record-tying 62 on Thursday and set the tournament record with a 54-hole total of 198, saw his one-stroke lead in the tournament evaporate Sunday when he bogeyed the 420-yard, par-four first hole while Berganio birdied No. 1. A double-bogey by Thompson on the par-four ninth hole dropped him to 16-under, giving Berganio a three-shot advantage.

Thompson had been trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner on the Nike Tour since John Maginnes at last year's Dakota Dunes Open.

Gow, who won this tournament two years ago, fired a three-under 69 to take a share of second place with Thompson at 17-under 271.

Ryan Hietala finished five shots behind the winner in fourth place, while Ben Ferguson and Joel Edwards shared fifth place, six strokes back.

TSN