PGA Tour rookie Chris Kirk birdied two of the last four holes Sunday to win the Viking Classic at Madison, Mississippi, by a single stroke and claim his first career win. 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 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 as Americans filled the top six places. The highest placed foreigner was South Korea's Kang Sung-hoon, who finished tied for seventh after briefly holding a share of the lead. Kirk led the tournament by a shot heading into the final round but with the Annandale Golf Club's soft greens ideal for low scoring, he was under immediate pressure and did not pull clear until the penultimate hole as a handful of players took turns sharing the lead. Kirk, who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing second on the Nationwide Tour money list last year, went out in 35 then made two early birdies on the back nine before a bogey on 14. He steadied himself with a birdie at the par-3 15th before regaining the outright lead on the par-4 17th when he hit his approach over the water to within five feet of the hole for an easy birdie putt.
