Mallon Comes On to Win du Maurier

All the elements were in place for a Canadian feel-good story Sunday in the LPGA’s du Maurier Classic at Aylmer, Canada. Canadian golfing sensation Lorie Kane entered the final round tied for first place with Annika Sorenstam and was poised to win the final du Maurier.

“I was writing a story,” Lorie Kane said. “I just didn’t get the ending.”

Instead it was American Meg Mallon who dictated the final round.

Mallon shot a three-under-par 69 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club to win what might be the last women’s major championship to be played in Canada.

Mallon finished with a six-under 282 total for a one-stroke margin over Rosie Jones, who shot a 68 Sunday. Mallon earned $180,000 for her first major title since 1991.

Sorenstam had a 74 to finish third at 284, and Diana D’Alessio was another stroke back after a 72. Kane shot a 76 to tie for fifth at 286.

Du Maurier is a brand name for Imperial Tobacco and sharp restrictions on cigarette advertising taking effect in Canada next year will force the company to cut ties with an event it has sponsored since 1984.

The tournament, rotated among top Canadian courses, has been an LPGA major since 1979, but is likely to lose that status even if it can be saved by another local sponsor.

*

Rocco Mediate, who never led and trailed by one stroke going to the last hole, made a 12-foot birdie putt and won the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich., when Chris Perry missed a 10-foot par putt. It was Perry’s first bogey in 29 holes.

“I knew if I made birdie, I might get in a playoff,” Mediate said. “I didn’t expect this.”

Mediate birdied two of the last three holes and closed with a six-under-par 66 to win his fourth title. He finished at 20-under 268 and earned $486,000.

Perry finished with a 68. Hal Sutton, the only other player who had a serious chance of winning, played the back nine in even par and finished with a 68, three strokes behind.

Tiger Woods shot a 68 and finished seven strokes behind Mediate.

A birdie by Joe Ozaki on the 18th hole knocked Woods out of the top 10 for only the third time in his last 25 PGA Tour events. All three came in his first tournament after winning a major championship.

*

Tom Jenkins won for the second time on Senior PGA Tour, making a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the AT&T; Canada Senior Open at Winnipeg. His four-under-par 68 on the St. Charles Country Club course gave him a 14-under 274 total, one stroke better than Kermit Zarley.

Jenkins had only one victory on the PGA Tour.

*

Scotland’s Gary Orr weathered an early charge by Colin Montgomerie and shot a two-under 70 to win the British Masters by two strokes at Woburn, England.

Orr finished at 21-under 267. Per-Ulrik Johansson of Sweden birdied two of the last three holes for a 67 and finished second. Montgomerie had a 71 and was third.

Up Next

This week’s schedule for golf’s major tours:

PGA SCHEDULE

* Thursday-Sunday--PGA Championship, Valhalla G.C., Louisville, Ky.

SENIOR SCHEDULE

* Friday-Sunday--Novell Utah Showdown, Park Meadows C.C., Park City, Utah.

LPGA SCHEDULE

* Thursday-Sunday--Women’s British Open, Royal Birkdale G.C., Southport, England.