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Parsons Solid In Norman Win


Lucas Parsons had six birdies during a flawless round of 67 Sunday for a four-stroke victory in the $1.3 million Greg Norman International at the Lakes.

The Australian, a co-leader after three rounds, began with a birdie at the first hole and closed with a birdie at the 18th for a 19-under total of 273 on the 6,904-yard, par-73 course.

Peter Senior finished second after a 69 for 277.

The Australian mounted a late charge with birdies at the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th before missing a putt for par at the 18th, taking the pressure off Parsons.

Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson shot a 69 and tied for third at 279 with Scotland's Andrew Coltart (71). Welshman David Park, who shared the third-round lead, closed with a 74 for fifth at 280.

Parsons, who won the Australian and New Zealand amateur championships in 1991, hadn't won a PGA tour event since the 1995 New Zealand Open.

He said winning the Greg Norman International was the result of a long road back from his doldrums during the mid-1990s, when he gained a U.S. tour card in 1995 but lost it the following year.

"It was hard work but I loved it," he said Sunday after earning a three-year exemption for the European Tour. "Europe is now open for me - I'm in whatever (European Tour) events I want to be."

Parsons grew in confidence after chipping in for a birdie at the seventh, extending his lead to four shots.

"It's an immense relief," he said. "I was very emotional walking up the 18th."

Masters champion Maria Jose Olazabal, who surged Saturday with six straight birdies and a 66, struggled in overcast and windy conditions Sunday and finished tied for eighth at 282.

The Spaniard had four bogeys and a double bogey before making birdies on five of the last 10 holes for a 74.

Germany's Bernhard Langer had a 72 for 286. John Daly closed with a 72 for 289.

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