Nielsen wins Champions event in New York

ENDICOTT, N.Y., June 28 (UPI) -- Lonnie Nielsen shot 9-under 63 Sunday to win the Champion Tour's Dick's Sporting Goods Open at Endicott, N.Y., by three strokes.

To win for the second time on the Champions Tour -- in New York state both times -- Nielsen had to overcome the three-shot advantage held by second-round leader Fred Funk. He birdied the first and second holes Sunday, and then holed a 50-foot eagle putt at the par-5 third.

"I don't know what it is about New York," Nielsen said after his record-setting 54-hole total of 21-under 195, four strokes better than the 199 for R.W. Eaks and Eduardo Romero in the last two years. "It was just great to see some familiar faces out there pulling for me. They enjoyed it as much as I did."

The victory was worth a $247,500.

Funk shot 3-under 69 Sunday but, at 18-under 198, shared second place with Ronnie Black (66).