Gore Hangs On, Wins by a Stroke

U.S. Open fan favorite Jason Gore won the Nationwide Tour’s National Mining Assn. Pete Dye Classic on Sunday, closing with a four-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Doug LaBelle II.

Gore won the fourth Nationwide Tour title of his career three weeks after shooting a 14-over 84 in the final round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, N.C., to drop from a tie for second to a tie for 49th.

“It has been quite a month,” Gore said.

“Whatever tournament you are playing in at the time is a very important tournament, whether it is the U.S. Open or the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic.”

The husky former Pepperdine player made a 2 1/2 -foot eagle putt on the par-five 15th and parred the final three holes -- holing a four-footer on No. 18 -- to finish at 17-under 271 on the Pete Dye Golf Club course.

“I had a lot of fun out there today,” Gore said. “To be able to hug your mom coming off the 18th green is pretty cool. I’m just glad we ran out of holes there at the end, especially considering how well Doug played today.”

Gore, who turned down a sponsor exemption for the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, earned $108,000 to jump from 57th to seventh on the money list with $149,579.

The top 20 at the end of the season will earn 2006 PGA Tour cards.

LaBelle finished with a 66.

Bubba Dickerson (69) was third at 15 under, and Chris Couch (69) was another stroke back.