POTOMAC, Maryland, 29 June 2004 — Australia’s Adam Scott held off a late charge from Charles Howell III to win the Booz Allen Classic by a comfortable four strokes on Sunday.

Scott, with two wins this season on the PGA Tour, finished on 21-under-par 263 after carding a 68 in the final round.

Howell, who shot a 65, took second place on 267, while South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini, the defending champion, was third another two shots back with a 66.

Tim Herron, Bo Van Pelt and Arron Oberholser shared fourth place on 272.

Germany’s Alex Cejka and Olin Browne were joint seventh on 273, while Frank Lickliter II and Aaron Barber tied for ninth another stroke back.

Scott had begun the final round with a six-stroke lead over Browne, while Oberholser and Howell were seven back.

The 23-year-old stretched the lead to seven on the front nine, but then on the 11th hole Howell began a string of five straight birdies that would pull him within two shots.

After making a three-putt par on the par-five 13th, Scott answered with consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and added another at the 17th.

The 25-year-old Howell, meanwhile, could manage only two pars and a bogey over the final three holes.

Scott’s 21-under total tied the tournament record held by Billy Andrade and Jeff Sluman and only a bogey at the 18th prevented Scott from setting a new scoring mark.

The victory, worth $810,000 to Scott, is his third on tour, following his victory in the Players Championship earlier this season. Scott also has four other worldwide victories.

Saiki Ends 14-Year LPGA Title Drought

In Pittsford, New York, American Kim Saiki ended a 14-season victory drought Sunday, firing a one-under par 71 to capture the LPGA Rochester tournament for her first tour triumph.

Saiki won in her 287th career start, finishing at 14-under par 274, to defeat compatriot Rosie Jones and South Korea’s Mi Hyun Kim by four shots. Saiki’s 72-hole total was the lowest at this event in a decade.

“It’s incredible,” Saiki said. “No words could describe it.”

Saiki, 37, had four previous LPGA second-place finishes, but the most recent of those was six years ago. Saiki had not cracked the top 20 in 12 prior starts this season.

“I’ve always believed in myself. I wouldn’t be out here if I didn’t think that I could win,” Saiki said.

“In the past when I finished second I just got outplayed. I didn’t play poorly.”

The top prize of $225,000 is more than Saiki made in any of her first 11 seasons on tour, lifting her from 77th on the LPGA money list into the top 15 with 280,000 dollars this season.

“It hasn’t really sunken it yet,” Saiki said. “I think tomorrow I’ll feel it and be a little more emotional about it.”

Saiki began the final round a stroke ahead of Jones and opened with a birdie, but a double bogey at the second opened the door and Jones had a one-stroke lead when the final two-some reached the turn.

“After the birdie on the first hole the adrenalin was unbelievable and I got up to the second hole and I just hit a drive straight right and really had no play,” Saiki said.

“But after I doubled that hole I was still very calm because I knew there was a lot of golf left. It wasn’t one of the wisest decisions that I’ve ever made to hit driver on that hole.”

Jones bogeyed the 11th hole and double-bogeyed the 14th on her way to a 74 and her second runner-up showing in her past four starts.

Saiki birdied the 12th but went into a bunker on 13 on the way to a bogey. She followed that with a seven-foot birdie at the 14th and two-putted from 20 feet for a birdie at the 17th.

Saiki had given out resumes to start a teaching career next year.

“I think I’m going to have to rethink my career path,” she said. “I would definitely love to defend this title.”

Kim was second here two years ago, having blown the lead in the final round. But she made a late run at the leaders before finishing with six pars.

“My goal was top three, so when I look at the scoreboard I get top two and I was just happy,” Kim said.

This was the final tune-up event for next week’s US Women’s Open in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

“My parents told me if you want to marry you have to win US Open, so I have to win the US Open,” Kim said. “I’m trying to do my best.”