GOLF ROUNDUP : Faxon Holds Off Mickelson for Third Title

Brad Faxon made birdies early and then held off Phil Mickelson to win the New England Classic Sunday at Sutton, Mass.

A birdie on the par-four 17th hole assured Faxon of the third victory of his career and $180,000.

“First it was short, then it was right, and then it went in,” Faxon said of the birdie putt. “It must have been fate.”

With only two bogeys over 72 holes, Faxon finished 16 under, two shots ahead of Mickelson, who shot a final-round 66 over the 7,110-yard, par-71 Pleasant Valley Country Club course. Third-round co-leader Roger Maltbie faded with a one-over 72.

Jim Dent shot a final-round 68 and capitalized on a late collapse by Jimmy Powell to win the Newport Cup at Newport R.I., for the second time in four years.

Dent, 53, defeated Powell by one stroke for his seventh senior tour victory and $60,000.

Bernhard Langer beat Gordon Brand Jr. in a playoff to win the Dutch Open at Noordwijk after both benefited from a two-stroke penalty against apparent winner Mike McLean.

McLean finished at 276, one stroke better than Langer and Brand, but was penalized for lifting a live vine from above his ball on the 11th hole.

Only loose material is movable.