Golf Capsules

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Golf Capsules

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — With a performance that rivaled the dominance of Tiger Woods at the home of golf 10 years ago, Louis Oosthuizen led over the final 48 holes and blew away the field by seven shots to capture the British Open on Sunday.

The timing could not have been better — one week after South Africa concluded a wildly popular World Cup, and the day Nelson Mandela celebrated his 92nd birthday.

Oosthuizen (WUHST’-hy-zen) made only two bogeys over the final 35 holes in a strong wind that swept across the Old Course. He closed with a 1-under 71 for a seven-shot victory over Lee Westwood, who was never in the game.

The only challenge came from Paul Casey, who got within three shots after the eighth hole, then drove the green on the par-4 ninth. Oosthuizen answered by hitting driver onto the green and knocking in a 50-foot eagle putt to restore his cushion.

Three holes later, Casey hit into a gorse bush and made triple bogey, while Oosthuizen holed an 18-foot birdie putt.

Casey’s adventures in the gorse sent him to a 75 and a tie for third with Rory McIlroy (68) and Henrik Stenson (71).

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Matt Bettencourt chipped in for an eagle on the 11th hole, then held off Bob Heintz by a stroke to win for the first time on the PGA Tour.

Bettencourt capped his 4-under 68 with a bogey on No. 18 after a birdie on 17, finishing the Reno-Tahoe Open at 11-under 277. After his eagle on the par-5 11th, he played the final seven holes in 1 over par. He also bogeyed the par-4 14th at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Heintz missed a three-foot birdie putt on the 18 that would have forced a playoff.

John Merrick and Mathias Gronberg each shot 69 and tied for third at 9-under.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tommy Gainey shot a 3-under 69 to become the Nationwide Tour’s first two-time winner this season, holding on for a three-stroke victory in the Chiquita Classic.

Gainey, who matched the course record at TPC River Bend with a 62 in the third round, earned $99,000 and moved to No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list with $306,307. The top 25 on the money list at the end of the year get PGA Tour cards for 2011.

Joe Affrunti shot a 65 in the final round and finished second at 24 under for the tournament. Geoffrey Sisk and Colt Knost tied for third at 22 under.

Gainey’s final score equaled the second-lowest, sub-par finish in tour history. His 54-hole score of 24 under matched the tour record.