GOLF ROUNDUP : Trevino Wins Duel With Nicklaus

Lee Trevino made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole and shot a two-under-par 70 Sunday, ending Jack Nicklaus’ quest for his third consecutive title at the Tradition.

The drama of past meetings between the two players was present throughout the final round at Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nicklaus, who had blasted out of a trap to within 12 feet on No. 18, rolled a birdie attempt to the edge of the cup. But it wouldn’t drop.

Then Trevino, who left his attempt at birdie short, had to sink an 18-inch putt for par to claim a one-shot victory.

“He did most of the dueling on the back nine,” Nicklaus said. “I just made pars.”

Trevino began the day with a two-stroke lead, but bogeyed the first hole and Nicklaus birdied it. No more than a shot separated them again in what resembled match play to conclude the $800,000 Senior PGA Tour event.

Trevino’s winning total on the 6,864-yard Cochise Course at Desert Mountain was a tournament-record 274--14 under par.

Trevino recovered from his opening bogey with birdies on Nos. 8 and 12 to pull into a 13-under deadlock with Nicklaus midway through the round. But Trevino was hurt on the par-three 13th hole when he touched his ball while addressing it on the tee.

Trevino was given a one-shot penalty and then had to sink a 10-foot putt to save bogey and drop to 12 under.

“I think the turning point for me was the penalty shot,” Trevino said. “It relaxed me. I was probably going to make bogey anyway.”

Trevino recovered with birdies on the 15th and 17th holes, regaining the lead with the latter.

Chip Beck blasted out of a bunker on the 18th hole and made a six-foot putt for par to win the Freeport McMoran tournament at New Orleans by one stroke over Greg Norman and Mike Standly.

Beck blew a four-stroke lead with a round of 74 on Saturday and went into Sunday’s final 18 holes trailing Jeff Maggert by two shots. But Maggert carded a seven-bogey 75, slipping to a tie for fourth in the $1-million tournament.

Norman shared the lead briefly after five holes, then bogeyed the sixth and fell five strokes behind after Beck’s eagle on No. 11.

Beck bogeyed the 13th hole, and Norman birdied 12, 13 and 16 to pull to within one stroke with two holes to go.

“I was just hoping he’d run out of holes,” Beck said of Norman.

Beck, who had a final-round 70, earned $180,000 for his share of the purse. Norman and Standly each shot 69 and won $88,000 apiece.

Beck finished with a 276 total for the 72-hole tournament, 12 under par at the 7,116-yard English Turn Golf and Country Club.

Dana Lofland made a closing birdie and used a late collapse by Beth Daniel to take her first professional victory by two strokes in the $450,000 Las Vegas LPGA International.

Lofland, on the strength of a 24-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and two bogeys over the final three holes by Daniel, earned $67,500 to push her season earnings to $138,205.

Lofland had a final-round 71 and 54-hole score of 212, four under par for the tournament at the Desert Inn course.

Lofland’s effort gave her a two-shot margin over Daniel and Judy Dickinson, who closed with 72s, and Missie Berteotti, who shot a 68.