TERRASSA, Spain – James Morrison of England won the Spanish Open by four shots after shooting a 3-under 69 in Sunday’s final round.

Morrison entered the day tied for the lead with David Howell and pulled away by making three birdies while not dropping a shot at the Real Club de Golf El Prat. He finished the tournament on a total of 10-under 278.

It was the 30-year-old Morrison’s second career win on the European Tour, and the (EURO)250,000 ($284,000) purse was the biggest of his career. His first win came at the Madeira Islands Open in 2010.

“In years past when I haven’t done it it’s been too much looking at leaderboards and outside influences, and today … (I) stuck to my process all day long and executed, which feels amazing,” Morrison said.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez rose into a tie for second after the Spaniard eagled the fourth hole en route to a 67. Howell (73), Francesco Molinari (71) and Edouard Espana (69) also shared second.

LUBBOCK, Tex. – Team Canada’s Blair Hamilton notched his second collegiate victory of the season Saturday, posting a total score of 8-under par to share co-medalist honours at the NCAA’s Lubbock Regional.

The 21-year-old junior was making his collegiate postseason debut for the University of Houston, becoming the first Cougar in NCAA Regional history to card three consecutive rounds in the 60s (68-69-68).

As the lone Cougar yet to finish the final round, Hamilton birdied the 17^th at the Rawls Course to pull into a tie with Purdue, eventually forcing a playoff. Houston would go on to win the first playoff hole to earn the fifth and final spot in the NCAA Championship—making it the first time Houston had qualified in back-to-back years since 2000-01.

Hamilton, a Burlington, Ont., native, will look to continue his success at the NCAA Championships from May 29–June 3 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

Click here for full scores.

Click here to view participants competing in 2015 NCAA Div I Championship.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Phil Mickelson faded early and Rory McIlroy tailed off late. Robert Streb just kept on making birdies.

Streb shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy appeared on the verge of a late run at the leaderboard before making a double bogey on the difficult par-3 17th hole. The world’s top-ranked player appeared stunned when his tee shot hit the rock wall in front of the green and his ball caromed high into the air and into the water. He finished with a 70.

“One big mistake,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy had just made par on the 16th hole by hitting a 9-iron pin high from 166 yards. He went with an 8-iron from 178 yards on No. 17, but it wound up not being enough to carry the water when his ball got held up in the wind.

Despite the error, McIlroy said overall he was pleased with his round.

“I did what I wanted to,” said McIlroy, who won the event in 2010 for his first PGA Tour title. “I took advantage of the par 5s and made birdie on a couple of par 4s.”

Mickelson had his troubles too after a fast start.

Lefty opened with three birdies, but had a double bogey on the 18th hole when his tee shot wound up in the creek on the left side of the fairway. He shot 71, leaving him six shots back.

Mickelson has long expressed his affinity for Quail Hollow, saying it is suits his game perfectly. Yet, he is winless in 11 tries, although he has come close with five top-5 finishes.

He got things off to a rousing start, sinking birdie putts from 6, 9 and 12 feet to start the back nine, drawing roars from a crowd. But the putts wouldn’t fall for Mickelson after his initial burst.

“I turned a 66 into a 71 today,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson, who missed the cut last week at The Players Championship, insists his game “isn’t that far off.”

“Fortunately, I didn’t shoot myself out of the tournament,” he said.

While Mickelson faded after his strong start, Streb didn’t.

After tying for 30th at The Players, Streb set the early pace with two quick birdies on the back nine and played a bogey-free round.

His 65 was the second-best opening round score of his brief PGA Tour career. He found his putting stroke last week at TPC Sawgrass and it was right there again at Quail Hollow.

“It’s the first time in a while I feel like I have my putter working,” Streb said.

It didn’t hurt that he caught a few breaks along the way.

On the par-5 seventh hole, Streb hit a pitch shot from 10 feet off the green too hard, but the ball hit midway up the flagstick and dropped 4 feet from the hole, leading to an easy birdie.

“I smashed the flag,” Streb said with a sheepish grin.

While many of the fans were heading for the parking lot to call it a day, Chappell turned in a strong finish with an eagle on the par-5 seventh and a birdie on the eighth to move into a tie with Reed for second place.

Reed spent time tied for the lead, but couldn’t maintain it after failing to save par on No. 17 when his tee shot landed in the sand.

Stewart Cink topped the six-player group at 67.

Defending tournament champion J.B. Holmes put himself in position to become the first repeat winner in the tournament’s 13-year history by opening with a 69.

“I’m feeling really good about my game,” Holmes said.

Many of the world’s top players skipped the event, including Players winner Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson. Ernie Els withdrew because of a muscle strain.

 Canada’s Nick Taylor opened with a 1-under 71 and was the top Canadian thru 18 holes.

Three Canadians were a stroke back at even-par 72 including Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan and Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners – who is playing on a sponsors invite.

David Hearn (73) and Mike Weir (76) round on the Canadians in this week’s field.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – France’s Joanna Klatten had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and finished with a 6-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Kingsmill Championship.

Klatten birdied Nos. 3-6 and 8 and closed with a par on No. 9 on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.

“I made a few bombs, which is nice, but it was just solid,” Klatten said. “I’ve been playing pretty good lately. Just struggled with the putting the last few tournaments, but today it was fixed.

“I definitely had luck on my side today. I had good breaks and it feels good. Lately, it felt the other way around, but I knew that it always evens out. Today, it definitely did.”

The 30-year-old former Georgia State player is winless in 27 career events on the LPGA Tour.

“This is one of my favorite courses all year,” Klatten said. “I feel very comfortable here. It suits my eye really well. I think you have an advantage if you’re among the long hitters.”

Morgan Pressel, Alison Lee and Pat Hurst were a stroke back, and So Yeon Ryu, Paula Creamer, Jacqui Concolino and Perrine Delacour followed at 67.

Michelle Wie withdrew because of a hip injury after a 78.

“Regrettably, I need to withdraw today due to a left hip injury that has been bothering me this week,” Wie said on Twitter.

She had a double bogey, six bogeys and one birdie.

Pressel had five birdies in a bogey-free round. Winless since 2008, she has two top-three finishes in her last four events. She was third in the ANA Inspiration and second in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

“I just played pretty steady out there today,” Pressel said. “I don’t think I hit the ball quite as well as I would’ve liked to, but made a few really good up-and-downs. Made birdie when I had the opportunity. The good up-and-downs certainly were part of the reason why I had no bogeys.”

Lee had seven birdies and two bogeys. The 20-year-old former UCLA star tied fourth in the Kia Classic in March and has three top-25 finishes in her rookie season.

“I was able to grab a couple birdies going down the stretch,” Lee said. “Especially the last four holes – I got three birdies. I’ve been putting it a lot better. That’s what I’ve struggling with the past month, like my putting. But I had a lot of good rolls today.”

The 45-year-old Hurst had a bogey-free round. She won the last of her six LPGA Tour titles in 2009.

“You got to hit the ball well out here,” Hurst said. “It’s all about the angles out here and being on the right side of the fairway and the way you come into the greens. If you’re hitting the ball good, it’s easier to put them in that spot.”

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis opened with a 69, top-ranked Lydia Ko and Canadian teen sensation Brooke Henderson shot 71s, and second-ranked Inbee Park had a 72.

Three-time Kingsmill winner Cristie Kerr had a 73, and defending champion Lizette Salas shot 74.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jeff Maggert experienced the potential ups and downs of Shoal Creek during a round that was still good enough to put him on top.

Maggert birdied three of the final four holes Thursday for a 5-under 67 and a one-stroke lead over Kevin Sutherland at the Regions Tradition.

He held onto the lead at the first of the Champions Tour’s five majors despite a bogey on No. 18. He said a hot start is nice, but patience will be important the rest of the week on a course where Kenny Perry won at 7 under last year.

“The difficulty of the course, you don’t have to come out and tear it up for four days,” Maggert said. “You know there’s going to be some rough times on the course. Just the history of the tournament here, I think 10 to 15 under’s probably a typical range you would like to be in on Sunday.

“A few more 5 unders would help a lot in that regard.”

Maggert is seeking his second win on the 50-and-over tour after a victory in Mississippi last year. Sutherland is chasing his first senior title.

Maggert had five birdies on the first nine holes before the roller-coaster finish. He had three bogeys and three birdies on the back nine, but did make a 20-footer for birdie from the fringe on No. 16.

Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie and Wes Short Jr. were two strokes back at 69.

Sutherland had six birdies and two bogeys before parring the final five holes. It’s his first time playing Shoal Creek since the U.S. Amateur in 1986 and, he said, “I didn’t remember much except for the fact that I did like it.”

“Any time you make six birdies, I don’t care where you’re playing, that’s a good day,” said Sutherland, who made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 9.

Sutherland’s biggest claim to fame was shooting the Champions Tour’s first 59 last August in Endicott, New York.

“Kevin’s been playing pretty good this year so it’s not surprising that he had a good round,” Maggert said. “But it’s a ball-striker’s course. You can’t just aim for the middle of the green and shoot a good score.

“You’ve got to pay attention to where the pins are on the greens.”

The 65-year-old Watson had to chip out of the bunker below the green on the final hole, saving par with a 12-footer.

“It makes dinner taste a lot better, it always does,” he said. “I made a stupid decision on 18 to go for the flag there. It’s not a flag that you go at. You go left of the flag, get your two putts out of there and get out of there with a par.

“I did a pretty stupid shot right there. I was trying to go right at it. Ego got involved again.”

Then again, he made a 50-foot putt for birdie on No. 4, “so that’s like stealing.” It’s Watson’s best opening round at the tournament since 2009, when he also had a 67 at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. He finished in a three-way tie for fifth.

Montgomerie had a closing birdie. Short finished with a bogey with a chance to catch up to Sutherland and perhaps Maggert. Short had two straight birdies going into 18.

Perry and David Frost, who both have won this tournament since it moved to Shoal Creek in 2011, were among nine players at 2 under.

Tom Lehman, who won in 2011 and 2012, opened with a 76. Points leader Joe Durant was three shots better at 73.

Canada’s Rod Spittle opened with a 74 and had a share of 43rd.

TERRASA, Spain – Trevor Fisher of South Africa led the Spanish Open by one shot after the opening round on Thursday.

His eight birdies were spoiled only by a bogey in his 7-under-par 65 at Real Club de Golf El Prat.

Fisher, who won his first European Tour title in March at the Africa Open, said he “hit one or two loose shots” but felt he “putted really well.”

In a tie for second, a shot back, were Tommy Fleetwood of England, Eduardo de la Riva of Spain, and Darren Fichardt of South Africa.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, who became the oldest champion on the tour at 50 when he won this title last year, finished on level-par 72, while Sergio Garcia carded 75 with six bogeys.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Symetra Tour has announced that 17-year-old Brooke Henderson has received sponsor exemptions to play in two upcoming Symetra Tour events. She will play in the Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club, June 19-21, and the Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Club, July 3-5.

Henderson recently finished third at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, missing out on a playoff by just one shot. That finish vaulted the Smith Falls, Ont., native up 116 spots to No. 91 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Henderson then Monday Qualified for the LPGA Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout and finished in a tie for 13th. Henderson is competing this week on the LPGA at the Kingsmill Championship.

The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member is now ranked No. 80 in the world in her first year as a professional.

“It’s exciting for me to have the opportunity to play in the Four Winds Invitational and the Tullymore Classic on the Symetra Tour,” said Henderson. “I’m so thankful to be living my dream of playing professional golf and I will use these weeks to continue working on my game.”

Prior to turning professional in December of 2014, Henderson was the top ranked amateur in the world. In 2014, she was the runner up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished in a tie for tenth at the U.S. Women’s Open and won the individual title at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships.

In 2012, Henderson became the youngest ever to win a professional tournament when she won as a 14-year-old on the Canadian Women’s Tour.

The Four Winds Invitational and the Tullymore Classic will be the second and third events that Henderson has played on the Symetra Tour. She finished in a tie for second with her older sister, Brittany, at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic earlier this year. Brittany, who ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, is expected to play both events.

The Four Winds Invitational is part of the Symetra Tour’s Potawatomi Cup where players have the chance to earn an additional $50,000 in bonus money over the course of five events. The Tullymore Classic is one of seven new events on the 2015 schedule and one of three in the state of Michigan.

For more information about the Four Winds Invitational, visit www.fourwindsinvitational.com. For more information on the Tullymore Classic, visit www.tullymoregolf.com.

WILTON, Conn. – A boy who was bullied for stuttering received strong encouragement from someone else who once struggled with his speech – Tiger Woods.

Golf Digest published the letter from Woods on its website Tuesday. The author also shared in via Twitter.

Here’s the letter Tiger wrote to the bullied boy who stutters. Truly heartfelt. pic.twitter.com/FAM2RuLUZ0

— Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) May 12, 2015

“I know what it’s like to be different and to sometimes not fit in,” Woods wrote. “I also stuttered as a child and I would talk to my dog and he would sit there and listen until he fell asleep. I also took a class for two years to help me, and I finally learned to stop.”

The plight of the high school boy, identified only as Dillon, was publicized when his mother reached out to eight-time Solheim Cup player Sophie Gustafson of Sweden, who played her entire career on the LPGA and in Europe with a severe stuttering problem.

Gustafson shared the mother’s letter with Golf Digest, which published a story on its website April 30.

The mother said her son tried out for the football team only to quit because of the constant teasing about his stutter. She wrote that he was on the verge of leaping from his bedroom window on April 16 until his parents stopped him.

The mother’s letter to Gustafson also mentioned that her son watched golf and was a fan of Woods.

Not long after Golf Digest posted the story on its website, the boy received a letter from the 14-time major champion. Gustafson tweeted on Sunday her thanks to Woods “for sending my friend Dillon a letter. He got so happy! It’s being framed and hanged.” She added a hashtag that said “class.”

Woods said in the letter that he was younger than most kids he played and often was the only minority in the field.

“But I didn’t let that stop me, and I think it even inspired me to work harder,” he wrote. “I know you can do that too. You have a great family, and big fans like me on your side. Be well and keep fighting. I’m certain you’ll be great at anything you do.”