English Logs First Tour Title in Memphis


Harris English birdied the 16th and 17th holes Sunday to forge a two-stroke lead he never lost. Those late heroics led the 23-year-old Georgian to close with a 3-under 69 and win the FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis for his first PGA Tour title.

The four-time All-American at the University of Georgia finished at 12-under 268, two shots ahead of Scott Stallings (68) and Phil Mickelson (67). The victory by English was worth $1.026 million and 500 FedEx Cup points.

Stallings had a narrow lead for much of the day, but he double-bogeyed the par-4 15th when his approach to the green found a water hazard. The 27-year-old from Massachusetts birdied the next, however, to re-take the top spot on the leaderboard. But English's play on the 70th and 71st holes gave him the lead he'd never relinquish; Stallings bogeyed the last to fall into a tie for second with Mickelson.

English's birdies came when he two-putted on the par-5 16th and then drained a 17-footer for birdie on the penultimate hole. "It was close all week," English said later. "I was feeling good about my ball-striking and just had to get those putts to fall. I stuck with it and made some good birdies coming in."

Ryan Palmer shot a 67 to end up in fourth at 9-under 271, while another stroke back was Patrick Reed (70). John Rollins closed with a 68 to finish in sixth at 273.

Sharing seventh at 274 were South Africa's Rory Sabbatini (68), Justin Hicks (69) and Shawn Stefani. Stefani, a Tour rookie, enjoyed a one-shot lead entering Sunday after opening with rounds of 67, 65 and 66. But the 31-year-old Texan could only muster a 6-over 76 in the final round.

Eight players tied for 10th at 275. In that group was defending champion Dustin Johnson, who closed with an even-par 70.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.