CHAMPIONS

• Sluman bests Roberts for Bank of America win

  
  

  Concord, MA (Sports Network) - Jeff Sluman fired an eight-under 64 Sunday to jump past Loren Roberts and win the Bank of America Championship.

  Sluman ended the event at 17-under-par 199, one shot off the tournament scoring record.

  The win for Sluman was his first on the Champions Tour and first since he claimed his sixth and final PGA Tour crown at the 2002 Greater Milwaukee Open.

  "I played very well today," said Sluman, who collected $247,500. "Loren put up a heck of a fight and he played terrific, too." Roberts, who led by one entering the round, posted a five-under 67 to end alone in second place at 15-under-par 201.

  Dana Quigley (68) and Mark McNulty (70) shared third place at minus-11, while John Cook (68) took fifth at 10-under-par 206.

  The final round was completed despite a one-hour, 40-minute weather delay at Nashawtuc Country Club.

  Roberts and Sluman both were on fire early. Sluman birdied the first from six feet out, but Roberts responded with an 18-foot birdie putt on the second to regain his one-shot lead.

  Both players converted birdie putts on three and four. Sluman capped a run of three straight birdies with a two-putt birdie at the fifth to again grab a piece of the lead.

  Roberts moved to 14-under with a six-foot birdie at the sixth. Sluman, who parred four in a row from the sixth, drained a 10-footer for birdie at 10 to join Roberts atop the leaderboard at minus-14.

  Sluman again carded four straight pars from the 11th. He dropped his approach to 13 feet at the 15th and converted the birdie putt to move one ahead of Roberts.

  Roberts could not get anything after his par on the sixth. He reeled off 11 consecutive pars from the seventh.

  Sluman poured in a 30-footer for birdie at the 17th and came right back with a 34-foot birdie putt at the last to seal the win.

  "I am very, very happy to finally win," Sluman admitted. "I started off fast and finished fast, too. Anytime you win and get over a hurdle it's special. It never gets old." Roberts, one of three multiple winners from last year that are winless this year, closed with a birdie at the last.

  "The rain delay changed the momentum," Roberts admitted. "But Jeff played terrific today. Maybe a little turning point came when I missed my birdie putt on 10. I shot 67, but missed some putts." Keith Fergus ended alone in sixth at nine-under-par 207 after a final-round 70.

  Lonnie Nielsen, Chip Beck, John Morse and Bobby Wadkins were one shot back at minus-eight.

  06/22 18:38:02 ET