Leonard rallies to win Honda Classic

JUSTIN LEONARD rallied past good friend Davis Love III to win the Honda Classic, carding a five-under-par 67 for a one-stroke victory.

With his wife's family in attendance having made the short trip to The Country Club at Mirasol, Leonard hit back after beginning the day a shot behind Love and trailing by two after five holes.

He drew even with a birdie at the 11th and took the lead for good with another at the 15th.

When Love bogeyed the par-three 16th, Leonard had a two-stroke cushion. He bogeyed the closing hole but held on for his first win in nearly a year and the eighth of his career, finishing with a four-round total of 24-under 264.

Meanwhile, Australia's Wendy Doolan opened the season in style with victory in the Welch's/Fry's Championship in Tucson, Arizona.

She closed with a great 65 to win by three from American veteran Betsy King and Canada's Lorie Kane.

Laura Davies was the leading Briton, but two weekend rounds of level-par 70 left her in joint 11th place, 10 behind the winner's 21-under 259 total.

Doolan started the day two behind Kane, but three birdies in the first four holes propelled her through the field and into a lead that she never lost.

She did have a few challengers, notably Californian rookie Christina Kim who started with a brace of birdies to briefly take the lead and South Korea's Grace Park.

But when Park three-putted the short 17th for double bogey and Kim suddenly found the pressure too hot on her LPGA debut, Doolan could enjoy a victory stroll to her second LPGA success.