Flesch Gets His First Victory

Steve Flesch won for the first time in his career Sunday, capping an impressive comeback with a 35-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole at the HP Classic of New Orleans.

Flesch, who started the round seven shots behind leader Scott Verplank, shot a final-round 65 to finish tied with Bob Estes at 21-under-par 267.

Verplank held a two-stroke lead with four holes to play, but bogeyed No. 16 and double-bogeyed the 18th to finish at two-over 74. He finished third at 19-under.

Both Estes and Flesch hit solid tee shots to start the playoff hole, the 471-yard, par-four 18th, which yielded only two birdies in the final round. They reached the green in two.

Flesch’s ball was only a few feet from Estes’ and about five feet farther from the hole. The winning putt rolled steady, straight and fast.

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Grace Park’s first shot was a drive into the water that led to a double-bogey. Her last shot of the round was a par putt of nearly 20 feet that gave her a one-stroke victory in the Michelob Light Open at Williamsburg, Va.

She rallied for consecutive birdies on holes 5-7, and her par save on 18 left her one stroke in front of three players and gave her the victory.

Park finished with an even-par 71 and a nine-under 275, one stroke ahead of Cristie Kerr (71), Karrie Webb (67) and Lorena Ochoa (69).

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Tom Jenkins shot a five-under-par 67 to win the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Hoover, Ala., by three strokes.

He wrapped two 67s around a 66 to finish at 16-under 200 to beat Bruce Fleisher by three strokes for his fourth win in five years on the Champions Tour.

Hale Irwin led after the first two rounds, but shot a one-over 73 and finished five strokes back at 11 under to tie for third with Jim Colbert.