Golf : Oosterhuis Wins Spalding Tourney

Peter Oosterhuis shot a 66 Sunday to win the $200,000 Spalding Invitational tournament with a score of 274, beating Johnny Miller by four strokes.

“Anytime you win, you feel fortunate,” Oosterhuis said. “There are a lot of good players here but a lot depends on how well they know what shots are required.”

“Two of the most important shots that I made were on the fifth and 12th hole, both par threes,” said Oosterhuis, who had nine one-putts and one three-putt.

Oosterhuis, who also won this tournament in 1983, earned $40,000, and Miller got $23,500 for second.

Going into the final round, Oosterhuis was tied with George Archer and Kathy Whitworth at 10-under par. However, he took command on the toughest stretch of the course with birdies on the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th holes.

Miller birdied four of his last five holes for a 71 and had a total of 278.

Archer hit a bad streak midway in the round and finished with 74 to tie for third place at 279 with Mark O’Meara and Bob Eastwood.

Whitworth, best of the five women professionals in the field, had problems as the weather suddenly changed and became cold and windy. Whitworth had a 76 for 281 to tie for sixth place.