Golf Roundup : Sutton Scores Phoenix Open Win

Forced to play conservatively for 17 holes, Hal Sutton refused to play it safe on the final hole.

With Tony Sills two strokes back and bidding for an eagle, Sutton hit a 2-iron shot over the lake guarding the 18th green and made a birdie to nail down a two-shot victory Sunday under windy conditions in the Phoenix Open.

“I wanted to play aggressively all day,” Sutton said. “That was my plan. But I kept getting myself in positions where I couldn’t be aggressive.”

Sutton, who started the final round with a four-stroke lead, tacked up a final-round 71 and never gave up the lead, finishing with a 72-hole total of 267, 17 shots under par.

But it was a struggle.

“Everybody has trouble winning with a three- or four-stroke lead,” Sutton said. “Every time. It is not an easy thing to do. It’s almost easier to win with a one-shot lead.”

Sills shot a 68 and tied for second with Calvin Peete at 269, 15 under par.

Peete also had a 68 despite an erratic putter.

“I had a chance to put some heat on him but I just couldn’t keep the putter hot,” Peete said. “I missed short birdie putts on the 12th and 15th and that just about did it.”

Dan Forsman, who scored an eagle-3 on the final hole, was next with a 66 for 270 but never really got in the title chase. He was followed by Don Pooley and Australian Greg Norman, tied at 271. Norman had a closing 70, Pooley a 69.

Val Skinner birdied the 18th hole to win the $200,000 Mazda tournament when Sandra Palmer bogeyed the final hole at Boca Raton, Fla.

Skinner, who joined the LPGA three years ago and earned her first tour victory in September, lifted a wedge shot 127 yards to within a foot of the cup on the par-4 No. 18. She tapped it in for a three and the $30,000 first prize.

“I tried to make a halfway decent swing,” said the 25-year-old Skinner of her wedge shot that rolled inches past the pin. “I just heard everyone screaming. I couldn’t see it (the ball).”

Skinner, who had five birdies in windy conditions on the final nine holes, had a three-under-par 69 for a winning total of 280.

Palmer, who had a one-stroke lead, hit the ball over the 18th green with a 6-iron and two-putted for a five. She finished the tournament at 281 to win $18,500.

“I played one hole too many,” Palmer said.

Palmer parred each of the front nine holes and had four birdies and two bogeys on the back nine for a 70.

Becky Pearson and defending champion Hollis Stacy tied at five-under-par 283. Barb Thomas, who led after the third round, finished with a 284.

Cindy Scholefield of Malibu beat two-time winner Lancy Smith of Snyder, N.Y., 7 and 6, to win the Doherty Challenge Cup at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Scholefield lost the first hole of the match, then countered with birdie wins at the third and fourth holes and never was headed the rest of the way. Smith, champion in 1977 and 1979 and playing in her 20th Doherty, won three holes during the match.