hr: Golfing

Richard S. Johnson birdied three of his last four holes to shoot a 6-under 64 Sunday and win the U. S. Bank Championship for his first PGA Tour victory.

Johnson finished at 16-under 264 on the 6,759-yard Brown Deer Park Golf Course. He is the sixth golfer from Sweden to win on Tour and seventh first-time winner this year.

Johnson, the first-round leader after shooting a 63, sank a birdie putt of about 12 feet on the par-4 17th hole to break a tie with Ken Duke at 14 under. He then birdied the par-5 18th from less than 2 feet.

He needed that final birdie to win because Duke, playing in his threesome, also birdied the last hole.

Duke shot 65 to finish second at 15 under.

Dean Wilson (65), Chad Campbell (65) and Chris Riley (66) tied for third at 13 under.

Perry had been criticized for skipping the British Open to play here after winning three of his last five tournaments, including last week’s John Deere Classic. The event is being held in his native Kentucky.

Perry felt his finish vindicated that decision.

“I accomplished my goal,” Perry said in a Golfweek article. “I wanted to top-10 it. ”

Johnson started the day at 10 under, a shot back of third-round leaders Gavin Coles and Nick Flanagan. Coles and Flanagan each shot even par-70 and tied for 11th.

Johnson struggled early in the final round with bogeys on two of his first three holes. Troy Matteson, Duke, and Campbell all made the turn at 12 under, one shot ahead of Johnson. At one time four players were tied at 13 under but Johnson birdied the 15th hole and Duke the 16th to break away and tie at 14 under.

Defending champion Joe Ogilive failed in his bid to become the first player to win back-to-back titles in the tournament, which began in 1968. He shot a 67 and tied for sixth.