Franco Defends Compaq Title

Carlos Franco gave his Paraguayan countrymen reason to celebrate by settling down on the second playoff hole Sunday and repeating as champion at the $3.5-million Compaq Classic at New Orleans.

“This is very sweet, very sweet for me, very sweet for my country, very sweet for everyone,” Franco said after beating Blaine McCallister in the playoff. “I know everyone in my country was watching on television and being very nervous. But now it’s OK.”

Franco survived a bogey on the first playoff hole then made a three-foot putt for par on the second to make it OK and earn $612,000.

Both he and McCallister--who led by a shot until a bogey on No. 18--closed with four-under-par 68s and 18-under 270 totals at the English Turn Golf & Country Club.

*

Laura Davies shot a two-over-par 72 at Austin, Texas, and held off Dottie Pepper for a two-stroke victory, the 60th of her international career and 19th in 12 years on the LPGA Tour.

Davies never pulled the driver out of her bag at narrow Onion Creek Club in earning $127,500 for her second victory of the year. She needs only three more points in the LPGA’s scoring system for automatic qualification to the Hall of Fame.

*

Bruce Fleisher birdied the third playoff hole to beat Hubert Green in the Home Depot Invitational at Charlotte, N.C., and earn his 10th victory in a 44-tournament PGA Senior Tour career.

Fleisher, who closed with a 68 at TPC Piper Glen, earned $195,000. He and Green each matched the tournament record with 13-under-par 203 finishes, and both birdied and parred the first two playoff holes before Fleisher hit a 90-yard approach shot to within three feet on the par-five 18th hole.