Campbell comes from behind to win Viking Classic

2007-09-30

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MADISON, MISSISSIPPI (TICKER) -- Chad Campbell carded a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday to win the Viking Classic.

Campbell finished at 13-under 275 to pick up the $630,000 first prize and earn his first victory of the season.

The season had been a struggle for Campbell before he broke through this weekend at Annandale Golf Club for his fourth career PGA Tour title. He started the day tied for third after a third-round 64 and outlasted the field for his first win since the 2006 Bob Hope Classic.

"I haven't won, it's been a while," Campbell said. "Almost two years now. It's definitely nice to be back in the winner's circle. Honestly, I didn't know how everything would hold up. You know my hard work and, you know, just trusting my golf swing, and trusting what I've been working on. It felt great."

Campbell had just one top 10 in 25 events entering this week and had missed 10 cuts. In his last eight events he had three missed cuts and no better finish than his tie for 54th last week at Turning Stone.

Johnson Wagner finished second at 12-under 276 after a 2-under 70 on Sunday. Boo Weekeley (70) and Bill Haas (72) tied for third at 11-under.

Campbell got off to a good start with four birdies and a bogey through 11 holes. After a bogey at 15 he rebounded with consecutive birdies. Campbell then closed his round with a bogey but it only affected his margin of victory.

John Senden (70), Shaun Micheel (72) and David Branshaw (75) finished at 10-under 278.

In search of his first career PGA Tour victory, Branshaw entered Sunday with a two-shot lead but struggled.

A lowly 190th on the money list, Branshaw had three bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-5 seventh. He did not make his first birdie until No. 10 and he dropped out of a tie for third with a bogey at 18.