Swift Fends Off Begay to Pull Out Championship - Sunday, September 10, 2006

MESCALERO, N.M -- Talk about a road win.

Battling a course he had played on in only one other tournament and against a guy with almost all the fans, Australia's Richard Swift had a masterful back nine to win the 53rd annual New Mexico Open on Saturday at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Championship Golf Course.

Swift made four straight birdies from holes eight through 11 to grab the lead from former champion Notah Begay III, and then hung on with a number of clutch par-saving putts for a final round 5-under 67 and a 13-under 203 total in the 54-hole event.

Begay, a four-time PGA Tour winner who was playing in the Open for the first time since winning it in 1998, also closed with a 67 to finish a shot back.

Begay had opportunities all the way through the end of the round, but watched his 20-foot birdie putt slide just past the cup on the final hole. That was the only hole Swift bogeyed after No. 1.

"You've got to tip your hat to Richard," said Begay, a former state high school champion at Albuquerque Academy. "I knew I would have chances down the stretch, but he just hit some great shots. If he doesn't hit that one on 17, it's a different ballgame. But he did, and you have to give him credit."

Begay pulled within a shot with a 30-foot birdie putt on 16 and stuck his approach within 12 feet on 17. But Swift responded, hitting a 100-yard lob wedge within 5 feet of the pin. Begay missed his birdie putt and Swift dropped his for a two-shot cushion.

"That was a big putt," said Swift, who lives in Victoria, Texas when in the United States. "I have a new coach and we've been working on my putting a whole lot. I feel real confident standing above them, and I had some real testers today.

"But that's what you want. I was able to see how my game held up under the pressure of playing again a PGA Tour player. I knew he would shoot a low round."

Swift, who got $11,550 for the win, entered the final round at 8 under, with a one-shot lead over Begay and Brett Callas. Begay birdied the first two holes to grab the lead while Swift made bogey on the first hole before a birdie on No. 2.

Ten other players were within four shots, but soon started to fall off the pace as Swift, Begay and Callas jockeyed for the lead for the first seven holes.

Callas watched his chances at victory dissipate with a double bogey at 7 and a bogey at 9, while Begay and Swift both made birdies at No. 9 to move 10 under.

Swift, a member of the Tight Lies Tour, grabbed the lead with birdies at 10 and 11. Begay played catch-up the rest of the day.

Begay got a stroke back with a 15-foot birdie at 12, but Swift came right back to birdie 13 for a two-shot advantage.

Begay looked like he would make up a shot at the par-5 14th when he had a 5-foot birdie putt above the hole and Swift - having sent a 35-foot birdie putt 8 feet past the cup - had a tester just for par. But Begay's slow roller lipped the cup and sailed 6 feet past. Both made clutch par putts, and the lead remained two shots.

"That was a tough putt," Begay said of his birdie attempt on 14. "But that's how you want the course for the final round. It was a good test. I really wanted this win, but it was such a great experience being able to play in front of my family and spend some quality time with my family and friends.

"I just might have to come back here again next year and win this thing and make it right," he added with a grin.

Swift, knowing he was the villain in front of about 50 Begay fans, said it was a "little bit" like him against the world.

"But Notah's supporters were great, because they still clapped for every good shot I made," he said.

Casey Harbour of Lake Quivira, Kan., was third at 8 under, while Rich Morris of El Dorado, Kan., was fourth at 7 under.

Former University of New Mexico golfers Madalitso Muthiya and Jay Choi were part of a eight-way tie for fifth at 5 under, as was former Eldorado High and New Mexico State golfer Danny Bowen.

KNUTE NOTAH: After his Friday round, Begay was asked to give a pregame speech to the Mescalero High School football team for its game against Dulce.

"I thought it was my chance to be like Knute Rockne," Begay said. "Maybe I gave the wrong speech."

Dulce rolled to a 42-13 win.