GOLF ROUNDUP : Thompson Doesn’t Lose Control, Wins Senior Tournament by 1 Shot

Jim Dent made a final rush, but Rocky Thompmson never lost the lead or his composure.

Dent eagled the 17th hole to pull even, but he bogeyed the final hole at the $400,000 MONY Syracuse Senior Classic Sunday to give Thompson a one-stroke victory.

“I wasn’t exactly confident I could pull it out,” said Thompson, who ended a 27-year winless drought when he parred the final hole.

“But I never believed I’d lose because he was never in the lead. Even when he caught me at 17. I knew, thank goodness, that the par-fives were done.

“I kept telling myself I could win the tournament. (Dent) had me scared.”

Thompson, whose previous best finish was second at this year’s Vantage at Dominion, finished at 17-under-par 199 to win the $60,000 first prize.

He finished with a 69 after a 68 in the second round and a course-record 62 to take a four-stroke lead in the opening round.

Dent, two-time defending champion, rallied with birdies on 15 and 16 before making a 30-foot eagle putt, but he faltered on 18. He had a final-round 67.

“I made too many mistakes to overcome Rocky,” Dent said. “I drove it good (on 18), but he hit a great second shot. I just hit too much club on my second shot. I knew the putt wasn’t there.

“Rocky made a lot of good chips and putts. You do things like that and you win championships.”

Bruce Devlin shot a 67 to finish third at 203.

J.C. Snead, who was within four shots of the lead, was disqualified after failing to sign his scorecard after the second round, a PGA spokesman said.

Colleen Walker followed an eagle and a birdie with a par on the final hole for a five-under-par 67 and a two-stroke victory in the LPGA’s $400,000 Lady Keystone Open at Hershey, Pa.

Walker, who earned $60,000, finished at nine-under-par 207.

Beth Daniel could have tied Walker with a birdie on the final hole, but her approach shot missed the green and she made a bogey to finish with a 70, tied for second with Kris Tschetter, who had a final-round 68.

Second-round leaders Barb Mucha (73) and Jody Anschutz (71) faded after sharing a two-stroke lead through five holes.