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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 30, 2006

Eagle start spurs Choi to four-shot victory

Associated Press

K.J. Choi got off to the start he wanted.

Choi seized control of the Chrysler Championship with a 3-wood into 20 feet for eagle on the opening hole, closing with a 4-under 67 for a four-shot victory at Palm Harbor, Fla., that got him into the next two tournaments — the Tour Championship next week, and the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship at Kapalua, Maui, that kicks off the 2007 season.

"I'm very impressed today," said Choi, who won for the fourth time in his career in the last full-field event of the season.

Paul Goydos was 160th on the money list until he picked a good time to have his best week, closing with a 70 to tie for second with Brett Wetterich. Goydos earned $466,400, and moved up to 97th to secure his card for next year.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to catch K.J.," Goydos said. "The rest of it is pretty sweet."

ELSEWHERE

Charles Schwab Cup Championship: Jim Thorpe won at Sonoma, Calif., while Loren Roberts lost $500,000 with one big hiccup. Thorpe rallied with a 4-under 68 in the Champions Tour's season-ending event, cruising to a two-stroke victory over Tom Kite.

Roberts missed a 4 1/2-foot putt on the final hole, allowing Jay Haas to win the season-long points competition for the Charles Schwab Cup and the resulting $1 million annuity. Roberts had to settle for a $500,000 annuity.

Dubai Ladies Masters: Annika Sorenstam led wire-to-wire for her second Ladies European Tour victory of the year, shooting a 3-under 68 for a six-stroke victory in the season-ending event at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Volvo Masters: Jeev Milka Singh shot a 1-over-par 72 for a one-shot victory in the European tour's season-ending event at Sotogrande, Spain. Padrig Harrington, who finished tied for second, won the European Order of Merit, as the tour's top money winner.

Kolon-Hana Bank Championship: Jin Joo Hong became the third South Korean to win the country's lone LPGA Tour event in her first tour start, closing with a 2-under 70 for a three-stroke victory at Gyeongju, South Korea.