Flesch wins again on PGA Tour

Steve Flesch shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday and beat Michael Allen by two shots to win the inaugural Turning Stone Resort Championship at Verona, N.Y., the left-hander’s second PGA Tour victory in two months.

Flesch had an 18-under 270 total and won $1.08 million to boost his earnings for 2007 to $2.2 million, vaulting him from 70th on the money list into the top 30. He also earned a spot in the U.S. Open next year as a multiple winner since the last Open.

For Flesch, who began the day with a four-shot lead over Carl Pettersson and Charles Warren, it was his fourth career victory on the PGA Tour and marked the third straight time he’s won after holding the 54-hole lead. The third-round leader has won five of the last eight events on the PGA Tour, dating to Flesch’s victory at the Reno-Tahoe Open in August.

It was a banner day, nonetheless, for the 48-year-old Allen (68), who last year made his 13th trip to the Q-school finals and earned his PGA Tour card for a record ninth time. Although Allen failed to get his first victory, he earned $648,000 to boost his earnings to a career-high $960,297, inside the top 100 on the money list.

John Senden (67) and rookie John Mallinger (68) tied for third at 15 under, one shot ahead of Pettersson (73), Tommy Armour III (68), Mathew Goggin (69), Charley Hoffman (69) and rookie Parker McLachlin (71).

Champions Tour

Mark Wiebe became the 12th Champions Tour player to win in his first start on the 50-and-over circuit, leading wire-to-wire in a record-setting victory in the SAS Championship at Cary, N.C.

Wiebe, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, closed with a 5-under 67 for a tournament record 18-under 198 total on the Prestonwood Country Club course. He beat Dana Quigley by four strokes to take the $300,000 first-place check.

Wiebe matched Bobby Wadkins as the tour’s youngest winner at 50 years, 10 days. He also became the first player to win on a sponsor exemption since Christy O’Connor Jr. in the 1999 State Farm Senior Classic. Mark McNulty was the last player to win in his first Champions Tour start, taking the 2004 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.

Quigley shot a 69. Two-time SAS champion Bruce Lietzke and Keith Fergus had 67s to tie for third at 13 under, and McNulty (67) followed at 12 under.

British Masters

At Sutton Coldfield, England, England’s Lee Westwood won the British Masters for his second victory of the season and 18th overall on the European tour, closing with a 7-under 65 for a five-stroke victory over countryman Ian Poulter.

Westwood, the Andalucian Open winner in May, made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole and a 30-footer for eagle on the 17th. He had 15-under 273 total at The Belfry.

Ian Poulter, one stroke behind with three holes to play, finished with a 70.