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Funk ends six-year drought with win at SFB Classic
by Associated Press
MADISON, Miss. (AP) - Fred Funk birdied the final hole to finish off a final-round 6-under 66 and win the Southern Farm Bureau Classic by a stroke Sunday, his first PGA Tour victory in six years.
The 48-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup player tied a course record at Annandale Golf Club with a 22-under 266 to win for the first time since he won here in 1998.
After he left his 75-foot eagle putt short on 18, he sank a 4-foot putt to win it, then pumped his fist and screamed "Yes!" as the gallery cheered.
Funk had seven birdies and a bogey to become the second two-time tour winner at the par-72, 7,199-yard course. He surged to the top of the leaderboard with a 64 on Saturday, and held off Ryan Palmer in the final round for his sixth tour victory.
Palmer had a chance to go to 22-under on 18, but he left his 49-foot eagle putt 5 inches short and tapped in for birdie.
Funk, who earned $540,000, joined Brian Henninger (1994, '99) as two-time winners at Annandale.
Funk shared the course record set in 2000 by Steve Lowery and Skip Kendall, and finished in the top 10 for the fourth time at the tournament. In addition to his 1998 victory, the former University of Maryland coach tied for sixth in the 2000 tournament and was third in 2001.
Palmer, who won once on the Nationwide Tour last year, shot a 64 and earned $324,000.
Glenn Day (63), Loren Roberts (65), J.J. Henry (65) and Kevin Na (64) were two strokes back at 268. Kirk Triplett (66) was three strokes behind Funk.
Steve Pate and Chris Couch both fell off the pace after starting Sunday one stroke behind Funk.
Couch shot a 70 and finished at 271, and Pate shot a 74 and finished at 275.
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