J.J. Henry and caddie Matt Hauser stood on the 18th tee yesterday, knowing they'd soon be celebrating something special — Henry's first PGA Tour win.

The Fairfield, Conn., native had a three-stroke lead at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, Conn., a tournament he had watched growing up. Hauser pulled out the driver and gave his longtime pal a wink.

"Matt said 'Hey, you're one of the best drivers out here. Just go out and enjoy it. Just rip it down there,' " Henry said.

Henry boomed a 361-yard drive, the longest of the tournament, the ball landing about 80 yards from the green. With thousands lining the bowl-shaped hole, the long walk up the fairway was worth every step.

Henry shot a 3-under 67 to win by three strokes, becoming the first Connecticut player to win the 55-year-old tournament.

When his par putt rolled in, Henry dropped his putter, pumped both fists in the air and embraced his caddie.

"Every time I'd leave here I'd go back to the putting green or the driving range and pretend I was winning the tournament," Henry said of his childhood visits to the tournament. "I thought how cool that would be someday if I could be one of those guys and play against the best players in the world. It means the world to me."

Hunter Mahan (65) and Ryan Moore (67), who had surgery on his left hand in March, tied for second at 11-under. It was Mahan's best finish in two years. He also was looking for his first tour win.

ELSEWHERE

Champions Tour: Dana Quigley shot a course record-tying 9-under-par 63 to capture the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic in Overland Park, Kan., for the second year in a row and the third time since 2000. Quigley's three-day total of 18-under-par 198 was three strokes better than David Edwards.

European Tour: John Bickerton of England shot a 2-under-par 69 yesterday in Versailles, France, to win the French Open by one stroke for his second European tour victory. Padraig Harington (66) was at 274. Ian Poulter (69), Marcus Fraser (69) and 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell (73) were at 276.