Kirk Pulls off Fourth Tour Title


Chris Kirk closed with a 4-under 66 to win the PGA Tour's $6.5 million Crowne Plaza Invitational at historic Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas,

Kirk, a 30-year-old from Knoxville, got started with an eagle on the par-5 first hole and, after a bogey at the par-4 seventh, birdied the ninth to make the turn on the par-70 layout in 2-under 33. On the home half the winner of last September's Deutsche Bank Championship tagged on two more birdies for another 33.

Kirk finished at 12-under 268 for the tournament, which experienced weather delays and wet conditions since starting Thursday. On Sunday, the field was able to play lift, clean and place through the green, even in the soggy rough.

Brandt Snedeker could have forced a playoff on the par-4 18th but the Nashville native just missed a 15-foot birdie try to end up tied for second at 11-under 269 with Dallas native and crowd favorite Jordan Spieth, who birdied the 18th for a 65; and Jason Bohn, who fired the tournament's low round of 7-under 63 which involved six straight birdies on Nos. 2-7 and eight overall along with a bogey.

It was looking as if there might be a playoff coming down the stretch, but Kirk ended up on top, winning his fourth title on the PGA Tour. "This is as nervous as I've ever been so far," said Kirk, who earned $1.17 million, 500 FedEx Cup points, and the traditional Scottish-tartan plaid jacket that goes to the Colonial champion.

"I've always loved this golf course and this tournament," he added during a brief greenside interview. "Didn't feel I was swinging it all that well early in the week, but was able to get it done. It's just an amazing feeling."

Tied for fifth at 270 were Pat Perez (64), Canada's Adam Hadwin (66), Kevin Kisner (67), George McNeill (67) and England's Ian Poulter (70).

Kevin Na began the final round with a one-stroke lead over Poulter. But in trying to go for the wire-to-wire win the 31-year-old Las Vegas resident struggled to a 2-over 72 that included three birdies, three bogeys and a double on the par-4 ninth to fall into a tie for 10th at 9-under 271 with New Zealand's Danny Lee, South African Rory Sabbatini, and fellow Americans Ben Martin, Colt Knost, Jerry Kelly, Brian Harman and Charley Hoffman.

For full scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.