Leishman posts early 62, waits out first Tour victory
Marc Leishman shot an early 8-under-par 62 Sunday to win the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., his first PGA Tour title.
Australian Leishman, 28, began the day six strokes behind the leaders at River Highlands, but he made eight birdies and no bogeys, then sat in the clubhouse for more than two hours and watched. He finished at 14-under 266. Charley Hoffman (66) blew a two-shot lead. He pushed his tee shot into the water on 17 for double bogey before failing to get up and down from a bunker on 18 for bogey. Masters champion Bubba Watson (65) tied Hoffman for second, one shot back.
Leishman's 62 was the lowest score in a final round by a champion on tour this season.
"I didn't think it was going to be enough," he said. "Golf is a funny game, a really funny game."
"When it's said and done, obviously a bad finish and a bad taste in my mouth, but you learn from it," Hoffman said. "Any time you put yourself in contention, you learn from that."
Lang also wins first
Brittany Lang won the Manulife Financial Classic at Grey Silo in Waterlook, Ontario, for her first LPGA Tour title. She shot 4-under 67 then birdied the par-5 18th three straight times in a playoff. Lang missed a birdie try on that hole in regulation, leaving her tied with Hee Kyung Seo, Inbee Park and Chella Choi at 16-under 268.
"I can't believe it took me seven years to win a tournament out here," said Lang, the first Duke player to win on tour. "I hadn't been that good under pressure and I'm getting better, and I'm so thankful that it happened this week . . .
"I was just extremely nervous on the last hole to make that putt in regulation and it was just, my hands were shaking, it wasn't a good putt, but I gathered myself."
Course record for Calc
Mark Calcavecchia won the Montreal Championship in Sainte-Julie, Quebec, his second Champions Tour title. He matched the Richelieu Valley's Verchères Course record with an 8-under 64 for a four-shot victory. He finished at 16-under 200 for three rounds.
"I made some nice 4-footers for pars, which were nice," Calcavecchia said. "I get a little shaky on those on occasion and for some reason today, I just felt good on them."
Brad Bryant shot a 65 to finish second. "Calc . . . gets his momentum going and he's really hard to catch," Bryant said. "I made nine birdies today and I'll bet he made more [actually six birdies and an eagle], so it's hard to know. He's amazing that way."
Willett takes playoff
Danny Willett of England won his first European Tour title after beating Marcus Fraser of Australia in a playoff at the European Tour's BMW International Open in Pulheim, Germany. Willett shot a final-round 73 for an 11-under total of 277 to finish with a share of the lead with Fraser, who shot a 71 in rainy conditions on the Gut Larcenhof course. Willett sealed his first tour win in 106 starts at the fourth extra hole with a par when Fraser managed only a bogey. -- AP
