GOLF ROUNDUP : Albus Shoots 70 to Win at Tampa

Jim Albus, who never played the PGA Tour, shot a one-under-par 70 to win the Senior PGA Tour’s GTE-Suncoast Classic tournament Sunday at Tampa, Fla.

Albus’ 54-hole total of seven-under 206 was good for a two-stroke victory over Don Bies and second-round leader Gibby Gilbert.

Three strokes behind the winner at four-under 209 were Gary Player, Tom Wargo and Jim Feree. The victory at the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay at Cheval was worth $75,000.

Albus, who began the final round one stroke behind Gilbert, bogeyed his second hole and double-bogeyed his third. But he regrouped and took the lead on the par-five, 14th hole with a wedge to 15 feet and a birdie putt.

“Jim Albus played a great round,” Gilbert said. “He got off to a bad start, then fought back really well. He deserved to win.”

Albus’ second senior victory was not assured until the final hole. He went to the 415-yard par-four 18th with a one-stroke lead. Despite a narrow landing area and water stretching the entire right side, he hit with a driver. The ball rolled into the rough, five feet from the hazard.

Albus said he wasn’t sure his tee shot was dry until walking up the fairway, but once he found it, a wedge to three feet produced a birdie and a victory.

Bradley Hughes beat Peter Senior at the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Australian Masters golf championship at Melbourne. Hughes carded a seven-under-par final-round 66 to finish at 281, 11 under par. He drew even with Senior, who had a final-round 70, with the seventh birdie of his round at the final hole.

Six-time champion Greg Norman had a final-round 72 to finish sixth at 287. PGA champion Nick Price of Zimbabwe shot 67 to finish at 288.