NEWPORT PRO-AM GOLF TOURNAMENT : Claar Scores Clear Victory, Winning by 5

Brian Claar shot a four-under-par 67 Saturday to win the 16th Newport Pro-Am golf tournament by five strokes over Jeff Hart at the Newport Beach Country Club.

Claar had five birdies and a bogey Saturday for a two-day total of 133. He collected $10,000 of the tournament’s $50,000 purse.

“My bogey on 11 kicked me in the butt and got me to play well,” said Claar, 30, of Tampa, Fla. “I felt pretty solid all day, missing only two greens.

“The wind came up in the afternoon and the course played exactly the opposite of how it played Friday.”

Claar took the lead by four strokes with a birdie on the par-four 16th. On the par-three 17th, his sand shot hit the pin and dropped five feet from the hole.

“When those things start happening, you know you’re going to win golf tournaments,” he said.

Claar’s victory this weekend was his second of the season. He won a pro-am by seven strokes earlier this month in the Bahamas.

Claar also has earned a spot in this year’s Masters by finishing fifth in the 1989 U.S. Open.

Hart, who tied for second in last year’s tournament, struggled to a one-over 72 for a total of 138, good for $6,000. His double bogey on the par-four seventh dropped him two strokes off the lead.

“The double obviously hurt a lot,” said Hart, 29, of Solana Beach, Calif. “I just couldn’t get it going today. I didn’t hit the driver well or putt well. I’m glad it’s over.”

In the pro-am competition, two-time Newport winner John McComish and George Argyros finished in a three-way tie for first with pro Kent Kluba and Peter Foulke, and Hart and Michael Drucker.

After matching cards, McComish and Argyros were awarded the top honors and will compete in the Tournament of Champions Pro-Am at La Costa next January.