Maggert wins St Jude Classic

Memphis: Jeff Maggert won the St Jude Classic on Sunday to register his third USPGA Tour title and first since 1999, closing with a five-under-par 65 for a three-stroke victory over Tom Pernice Jr at the TPC at Southwind course in Memphis, Tennessee. Maggert, who began the round three strokes back, sealed his first victory since the 1999 Match Play Championship by rolling in a 36-foot eagle putt on the par-five 16th for a three-stroke lead. Pernice, who started the day tied with Tim Herron for the lead, shot a 71 while John Cook, who won here on 26-under in 1996, closed with a 71 to tie for third with Kris Cox (72) at four-under. Time Herron, trying to join Phil Mickelson and win consecutive tournaments on the tour this year, had a pair of double bogeys, including this on seven, and finished with a 77. Bit more success Briny Baird had a bit more success with his putter, sinking this birdie on 10. However, he would bogey 13 and 18 to fall from contention. After a third round of 66, Kris Cox was among the leaders. Cox shot a beautiful approach on 10 but he blew the putt and had to settle for par. John Cook also had to take a par on 12 after his valiant attempt at a 45-foot birdie went just wide. Cook tied Cox with a final score of four-under-par. The two finished just behind Tom Pernice Jr, who made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 11th hole that rolled around the rim before finally falling in. Pernice was pressurising the leader but Jeff Maggert put things out of reach on the 16th hole. He made a 36-and-a-half foot eagle putt to go eight-under-par. Then Maggert made it nine-under with a 34-foot birdie on the 17th as he sealed his first victory since the 1999 WGC-Accenture Match Play with a final round of 65. (AP)