Couples Wins in Mississippi


After losing the lead with a bogey on the par-3 17th hole, Fred Couples regained it for good with a birdie on the par-4 closing hole at Fallen Oak in Biloxi to win the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. The victory, Couples' seventh on the Champions Tour, was worth $240,000.

Couples bogeyed the par-5 15th and carded a par on the 16th before his bogey on 17 dropped him into a tie for the lead with Michael Allen and set up the final-hole drama. On the 18th, the toughest-rated hole on the course, Couples' drive found the fairway and he put his approach to eight feet. From there, he sank the birdie putt for the win.

Couples, who began the final round in the 54-hole tournament tied for the lead with Jeff Sluman, closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 14-under 202, one shot ahead of Allen, who posted a 66 to put pressure on Couples.

Sluman closed with a disappointing 1-over 73 to fall into a tie for third with Tom Pernice Jr. (69) at 10-under 206. Another stroke back were Bill Glasson (69), Bobby Clampett (71) and Jim Thorpe (72).

Defending champion Tom Lehman closed with a 72 to end up sharing 26th at 1-under 215 with five others.

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