Palmer leaves it late to win Ginn sur Mer Classic

Ryan Palmer birdied the 18th hole to win the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Florida yesterday.

Palmer made a 10-foot birdie on the last hole to finish at seven-under-par 281, one stroke ahead of a group of five players.

Palmer entered the event only 143rd on the money list but will not have to worry about his position for a while.

His victory earned him the $828,000 (€643,000) first prize and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

It looked like Palmer was falling apart near the middle of his round. He called a penalty on himself and made bogey at the 10th hole and then double-bogeyed the 11th after pulling his shot into the water.

Michael Letzig began the day with the lead but came to the 18th hole needing a birdie to tie Palmer for the lead.

Letzig had a wedge in his hand from 79 yards, but he hit it short and it rolled back to 35 feet and he failed to make birdie.

Letzig finished tied for second with George McNeill, Nicholas Thompson, Ken Duke and Vaughn Taylor.