TORONTO, 19 April 2005 — Australia’s Peter Lonard survived a rollercoaster final round to win the Heritage Classic by two shots from playing partner Darren Clarke of Britain on Sunday, capping a wild week at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Lonard, one shot clear overnight, closed with an untidy four-over-par 75 but his 72-hole total of seven-under 277 was good enough to clinch his maiden PGA Tour title.
“It’s something I’ll never forget,” said Lonard as he prepared to slip into the tartan jacket traditionally awarded to the winner. “I didn’t win it the way I wanted to win but a win’s a win.”
Clarke, who had been chasing for his third PGA Tour victory, double-bogeyed the last to finish with a five-over 76 in a four-way tie for second place. The final round featured wild swings in momentum and fortune from start to finish, with Clarke launching his victory bid in blistering style with four birdies in his first five holes. His opening surge left him four strokes ahead of the Australian, who opened with bogeys at the first two holes.
However, just as quickly as the Northern Irishman began he suddenly lost his way on the tight fairways and small greens at the Harbor Town Golf Links. A dropped shot at the par-four sixth was the start of a dismal run over the final 13 holes, which Clarke covered in nine over par with three double-bogeys, four bogeys and a solitary birdie at the par-four 12th.
Lonard fared only slightly better, mixing two birdies with six bogeys, but the 37-year-old Australian held his nerve when it mattered most and tapped in for a comfortable par at the tough final hole. The pair were tied for the lead at seven under playing the last but Clarke sent his approach shot into a thatch of bushes lining the beach in front of the left side of the green.
After firing back-to-back 65s, Clarke took a massive six-shot advantage into the weekend before becoming the first PGA Tour player since Nick Price at the 1984 Canadian Open to lead by six strokes after 36 holes and not go on to win.
Clarke’s collapse also cost him financially as he dropped into a four-way tie for second place with Americans Billy Andrade, 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk and five-time winner Davis Love III. Andrade carded a 68, Furyk a 69 and Love a 71 as the trio finished level with Clark on five-under 279.
