PERTH, Australia: American Bo Van Pelt won his first tournament of the year and the third of his career in the Perth International at Lake Karrinyup yesterday.
Van Pelt won an all-American duel with Jason Dufner by two strokes in a tense final round to claim the European Tour event.
The world number 24 had rounds of 70-67-67-68 to finish 16-under par 272 and pocket a cheque for $333,330.
Van Pelt began the day a shot clear of world number 10 Dufner, who closed with a three-under 69.
“It’s a great feeling to come out on top,” Van Pelt said.
“I have a lot of respect for Jason and his game.
“He’s a world-class player and I knew it was going to be tough today. I knew he was going to keep the pressure on me, and I needed to play well if I was going to come out on top.”
An emotional Van Pelt dedicated his victory to veteran caddie Scotty Steele, who died at the weekend after suffering a heart attack a week ago at a Champions Tour event in North Carolina.
“It was tough news this morning. I found out off of Twitter, some of the other caddies and players that I follow, I knew he had had a heart attack earlier in the week,” he said. AFP
