Pettersson holds nerve to win first PGA Tour title
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-31 09:04

TORONTO, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Sweden's Carl Pettersson battled his way to an even-par 71 to beat American Chad Campbell by one stroke at the Chrysler Championship in Tampa Bay, Florida on Sunday to claim his maiden PGA Tour win.

The 28-year-old from Gothenburg held his nerve to sink a tricky four-foot par putt at the last for a nine-under total of 275 at the Westin Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course.

Pettersson, who collected a first prize of $954,000 plus a new car, became the 12th first-time winner on the tour this season, and the third in as many weeks following Lucas Glover (Funai Classic) and Wes Short Jr (Las Vegas Championship).

"It's fantastic," Pettersson told reporters after becoming the third Swede to triumph on the tour.

"I was so nervous but I managed to get it in the hole."

Pettersson began the day tied for the lead with American Steve Lowery and played steadily, carding one birdie and one bogey while most of his challengers faltered.

Lowery's hopes of registering his first victory in five years disappeared after a triple bogey at the par-three eighth.

He eventually returned a closing four-over 75 to finish in a seven-way tie for third place.

Joining Lowery on five-under 279 were Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka (67) and Americans Stewart Cink (67), Tag Ridings (67), Tim Herron (70), Bo Van Pelt (70) and Tom Pernice Jr (72).