American Kanada earns PGA card with win

Houston - American Craig Kanada booked his place on the 2007 PGA Tour with a dramatic one-shot victory at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship in Richmond, Texas on Sunday.

The 36-year-old chipped in on the last two holes to overhaul compatriot Matt Kuchar with a six-under-par 66 at the Houstonian Golf and Country Club.

Six strokes off the pace at the start of the day in the final event on the PGA Tour's feeder circuit, Kanada earned a winner's cheque after finishing on 13-under 275.

It was the biggest come-from-behind victory in the tournament's history.

The Texas-based professional, previously a PGA Tour member in 1997 and 2001, gained his playing privileges for next year by climbing into the top 22 in the Nationwide Tour's final money list.

"This is a memory that will last a lifetime," Kanada told reporters after chipping in from 25 feet to par the 17th and from about 50 feet to birdie the last.

"To chip in twice in a row... I don't know if I've ever done that before. It's almost too much to handle.

"Securing my card is the biggest thing," added the American, whose closing 66 is the lowest score by a winner in the season-ending event, eclipsing the 68 by former world number one David Duval in 1993.

"I wasn't thinking about winning the tournament. That was just one more amazing thing that happened this week."

Kanada, who occupied 32nd spot in the money list at the start of the week, rocketed to 11th from 27 starts.

Kuchar, the 1997 US amateur champion, had to settle for a share of second place after closing with a 73, finishing level with Australia's Andrew Buckle (69).

Big-hitting American Ricky Barnes secured fourth place after returning a best-of-the-day 65, but narrowly missed out on his 2007 PGA Tour card after finishing 23rd in the final money list.