Mixed luck for Atwal at Heritage Classic, signs off at tied 17th

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Apr 17 (UNI) Arjun Atwal's fortunes kept oscillating throughout as he carded a level-par final round to finish tied 17th at the 5.2 million-dollar Heritage Classic here.

Atwal fired five birdies and an equal number of bogeys to have his best finish in the last five USPGA events. The Orlando-based Indian had failed to make the cut in the four events preceeding this.

Atwal started well with a birdie on the second but undid the good work by dropping a shot on the next hole. After an even-par shot, Atwal fired another birdie on the fifth but again let the advantage slip with bogeys on the sixth and eighth holes.

On his way back, the former Asian tour number one birdied the 10th but dropped two shots between the 12th and 14th before hitting successive birdies on the next two holes. He signed off with level-par shots on the last two holes for a four-day total of five-under 279.

Meanwhile, at the top, Australian Aaron Baddeley pipped American Jim Furyk, both joint overnight leaders, by a single shot to claim his maiden PGA title.

Baddeley had a one-under round, which took his four-day total to 15-under 269, to win his first title since joining the tour in 2003.

''To win is a relief, but it's also a dream, a goal that's been reached,'' Baddeley told reporters after winning 954,000 dollars.

''It's very satisfying and fantastic winning here,'' he added.

Furyk (270), who had a level-par round, finshed second followed by American Vaughan Taylor, who was leading after first round.

Defending champion Peter Leonard (287) had a poor back-nine -- hitting two bogeys, failing to gain even a single shot -- and finished a disappointing tied 59th on the leaderboard.

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