Clarke Holds Off Woods Again and Wins

Darren Clarke joined Tiger Woods as the only multiple winners of the World Golf Championship, building a five-shot lead and then turning back a brief challenge from the world’s No. 1 player to win the NEC Invitational and a $1.05-million prize.

Clarke closed with a three-under-par 67 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, for a four-stroke victory over Jonathan Kaye.

It was the second time in four years that Clarke defeated Woods at a WGC event. He also beat him in the 36-hole final of the 2000 Match Play Championship, 4 and 3, for his only other PGA Tour victory.

Clarke, of Northern Ireland, finished at 12-under 268, becoming the first European to win on the PGA Tour this year.

Woods, a winner the last three times at Firestone, made back-to-back birdies to cut the deficit to two shots. But he bogeyed three of his last seven holes and closed with a 70, six strokes behind.

Kaye played in the final pairing with Clarke and started only one stroke behind. The deficit was four after the second hole, and Kaye never got closer.

Davis Love III closed with a 69 to finish third at 273. Chris Riley (71) joined Woods at 274.

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Nick Flanagan of Australia squandered a four-hole lead before rallying to win the first playoff hole and beat Casey Wittenberg of Memphis, Tenn., 1 up, in the final of the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont, Pa.

Flanagan never trailed in the 37-hole match, but the top-ranked Wittenberg won two of the final four holes during the afternoon round, including No. 18, to force the playoff.

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Candie Kung shot a two-under-par 70 for a two-stroke victory over defending champion Se Ri Pak and Meg Mallon at the Wachovia LPGA Classic in Kutztown, Pa.

Kung finished at 14-under 288. Mallon shot a 71 to finish tied with Pak (68) at 12 under.

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Kirk Triplett shot a nine-under-par 63 to win the $3-million Reno-Tahoe Open with a 17-under 271, tying the course and tournament records with a three-stroke victory over Tim Herron.

Triplett charged from behind with nine birdies -- four in a row on the front nine -- to claim only his second victory in 14 years on the PGA Tour. Herron shot a 71 to finish second at 14-under 274.

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Don Pooley pulled away from a six-man scramble with an eagle on No. 11 and went on to shoot a four-under-par 67 to win the Allianz Championship at West Des Moines, Iowa, by three strokes.

It was the second Champions Tour victory for Pooley, who won the 2002 U.S. Senior Open. He finished at 13-under 200.

Jim Thorpe, Bruce Fleisher and Bruce Lietzke each closed with a 69 to finish 10 under.