Rookie Chris Kirk wins Viking Classic by shot

PGA Tour rookie Chris Kirk birdied two of the last four holes yesterday to win the Viking Classic at Madison, Mississippi by a single stroke.

The 26-year-old American birdied the 15th and 17th holes in a closing round of four-under-par 68 to regain the outright lead and capture his first PGA Tour title with a total of 22-under-par.

Tom Pernice and his fellow American George McNeill finished tied for second at 21-under while a further three players, Bud Cauley, Hunter Haas and Jim Renner, were a further shot behind at the Annandale Golf Club.

Meanwhile, overnight leader Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand shot a one-over 73 to win the Indonesian Open by one stroke and seal his 15th victory in the region yesterday.

After rounds of 68, 68 and 66, Thaworn closed with a 20-yard chip on 18 to line up a tap-in putt for par and victory.

His 13-under total of 275 earned him $180,000 (111,000) in prize money and a second Indonesian Open title.

Local favourite Rory Hie (69), defending champion Michael Hendry of New Zealand (70) and South Korea's Choi Jin-ho (71) tied for second.

• Benjamin Hebert banished the disappointment of five successive missed cuts to claim his debut Challenge Tour title in supremely testing conditions at the Credit Suisse Challenge.

The Frenchman arrived in Switzerland on the back of a wretched run of form, but after using the last fortnight to correct some technical issues in his swing on the practice range back home in Brive, he bounced back to form in spectacular style with a hugely impressive victory at Golf Sempachersee near Lucerne, Switzerland.