Perry surges to Buick Open victory

GRAND BLANC, Michigan (Reuters) - American Kenny Perry claimed his second title of the year when Woody Austin bogeyed the final hole to hand him victory at the Buick Open on Sunday.

With Perry in the clubhouse signing for an adventurous final round six-under 66, Austin watched his title hopes end with a bogey-bogey finish, missing a 18-foot par putt at the 18th to force a playoff.

It was a crushing defeat for the volatile Austin, who had mounted a late back-nine charge with birdies at 12, 13, 14 and 16 to get into contention before his collapse left him with a four-under 68 and tied for second on 18-under 270 with Bubba Watson.

Watson also had a chance to force a playoff but left a 12-footer inches from the hole.

Perry also endured a wild rollercoaster finish at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club with a bogey, eagle, bogey, birdie stretch from the 13th but held on for a one-shot victory with a total of 19-under par 269.

It marked the second win in four starts for Perry and his second Buick Open title.

Americans Bob Tway (65), Ken Duke (67) and Australia's Matt Jones finished one shot further adrift at 271.

Dudley Hart began the day with a group two shots off the lead but quickly erased the deficit with birdies on the opening two holes to join overnight Daniel Chopra at the top the leaderboard.

But Hart's title bid came to a shuddering end with four bogeys on his final six holes.

Chopra had started the day with a two-shot cushion but the bleach-blonde Swede had his title hopes end with a front nine meltdown carding four bogeys over his first seven holes.

(Writing by Steve Keating in Omaha, Nebraska; editing by Miles Evans)