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Mickelson Sets Record in BellSouth Win

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From the Associated Press

Phil Mickelson completed his wire-to-wire BellSouth Classic victory Sunday with a final-round 65 at Duluth, Ga.

Mickelson finished with a 28-under-par 260 -- a tournament record and a personal best -- one stroke shy of the best 72-hole total for a par-72 course in PGA Tour history.

The tournament’s previous low had been 265, achieved by Andy Bean (1979) and Dave Barr (1987). Mickelson’s previous low 72-hole total in any tournament was 262 in the 2004 Bob Hope Classic. The PGA Tour’s 72-hole record for a par-72 course also occurred at the 90-hole Hope Classic, with Joe Durant reaching 29-under 259 in 2001 and Tim Herron doing it in 2003.

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Mickelson capped Sunday’s round with an eagle putt on No. 18, his second eagle of the round. Jose Maria Olazabal, who shot a 69, and Zach Johnson, who shot a 70, finished 13 strokes behind in second at 15-under 273.

“He is doing absolutely everything right,” said Johnson, who was part of Mickelson’s threesome.

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Morris Hatalsky won his first Champions Tour title in nearly three years, closing with a two-under 70 for a one-stroke victory over Scott Simpson in the Blue Agave Golf Classic at Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Hatalsky, 54, who won the last of his two tour titles at the Columbus Southern Open in May 2003, had a nine-under 207 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Vista Vallarta Golf Club course. He earned $240,000.

Simpson also shot a 70. The 1987 U.S. Open winner bogeyed No. 17 and parred the 18th after missing a six-foot birdie try.

Mike Reid (70) and Gil Morgan (71) tied for third at seven under.

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