Leonard emotional after winning Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO -- Justin Leonard was all business in defending his title at the Texas Open. After his last putt dropped Sunday, though, there was a release of pent-up emotion.

Leonard's 2-under-par 69 was good enough to beat PGA Tour rookies J.J. Henry and Matt Kuchar by two strokes as he repeated at the LaCantera Golf Club course in the rocky hills north of San Antonio.

The Dallas native took home $540,000 for the win, his first in 31 starts dating to last year's event here. The 18-under 266 total gave him the sixth victory of his pro career.

He was the tournament's first repeat winner since Arnold Palmer won three in a row starting in 1960.

On the 18th green, the victory cheers from his large gallery of fans washing over him, Leonard shed tears that had been building since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington.

"I wanted to say something about the patriotism I've seen this week and I just got choked up," he recounted later.

The attacks forced the postponement of the Ryder Cup matches in England until next year. Leonard was one of the heroes of the United States' victory in 1999.

"All of the flags, all of the patriotism you see throughout the country right now -- you didn't see that a month ago," he said. "I think it's pretty special to win during this time and after what's going on and what we've all been through mentally and emotionally the last three weeks. It kind of all hit me right there on the green."

A local favorite because of his ties to the University of Texas, Leonard strode to the 18th green flashing the "Hook'em Horns" sign to calls of "Go UT!" from the gallery, many clad in the school's distinctive burnt orange.

Henry had a 66 on Sunday and Kuchar closed with a 69.

Bob Estes and Tommy Tolles tied for fourth at 13-under, one shot ahead of Steve Elkington and Kaname Yokoo.

For Leonard, success came by getting ahead early and then holding on against a changing roster of challengers.

AFLAC Champions

MOBILE, Ala. -- South Korea's Se Ri Pak shot a final-round 71 and matched the tournament record with a 16-under 272 total in winning the ALFAC Champions. Pak earned $122,000

Lorie Kane shot a 69 for an 11-under 277 total, five shots behind Pak. Grace Park shot a 70 and finished third at 9-under 279.

Gold Rush Seniors

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. -- Tom Kite shot a 7-under-par 65 to hold off Allen Doyle by one stroke and tie a Senior PGA Tour record in winning the Gold Rush Classic.

Kite, who won for the first time this year, collected $195,000 for his third career senior victory and established a tournament scoring mark with a 22-under 194. That matched the tour record in relation to par.

Doyle closed with a 63 for a 195 total.

-- From wire reports