Goggin wins Nationwide event
PANAMA CITY (AP) - Mathew Goggin won the Nationwide Tour's season-opening Panama Championship, shooting a 2-under 68 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Australian countryman Alistair Presnell and American Darron Stiles.
The 36-year-old Goggin, a two-time winner on the developmental tour in 1999, had an 11-under 269 total at the Golf Club of Panama. He earned $99,000.
``It's been a long time,'' said Goggin, who spent the past five years and nine of the last 11 on the PGA Tour. ``I've had some opportunities over the years but it's tough to win. It's tough to win anywhere.''
He opened with rounds of 68, 66 and 67.
``You don't have to shoot the best score every day, you just have to have the best one at the end,'' Goggin said. ``I accumulated the best score this week. Today was a day where it was more a question of momentum to lose. Par was a good score, it wasn't one to go on a birdie spree.''
Stiles finished with a 66, and Presnell shot a 73.
Erik Compton, the two-time heart transplant recipient who had the lead midway through the final round, shot a 75 - making a double bogey on the final hole - to tie for fourth with Tommy Biershenk (68) at 8 under.
``I was trying to win the golf tournament on 18. I tried to hit a hard wedge and get it close,'' said Compton, whose shot spun off the front of the green.
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