Coceres wins PGA event over Love

Jose Coceres of Argentina posted a four-under-par 68 in Sunday's final round to hold off David Love and win the National Car Rental Golf Classic for the second title of his first U.S. PGA Tour season.

Coceres delivered a message about his prowess on the golf course with the one-shot victory and another, more personal message with "Happy Mother's Day" written on his towel for his mother, who is celebrating Mother's Day in Argentina.

"I think that's the best gift I could've given her," Coceres said through an interpreter. "If this isn't the best one, then she's going to have to pick another one."

Coceres finished with a 72-hole total of 23-under-par 265, to add another title to his early season triumph at the Worldcom Classic at Hilton Head in April.

Coceres, 38, grew up poor in northern Argentina, sharing a two-room house with 10 siblings. He did not own clubs until he was 18, when he won a caddie tournament and purchased the set he had borrowed.

The Argentine began the day with a three-shot lead over Love but had to overcome an erratic front nine and a late downpour before sealing his win with a two-putt for par at the 18th.

The fifth-ranked Love shot a final-round 66 but settled for his third second-place finish of the season. Love claimed his only win of the year at Pebble Beach in February.

Jerry Smith and David Peoples tied for third at 20-under-par 268, one shot ahead of lefthander Steve Flesch.

Vijay Singh of Fiji, David Toms and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik were among seven players grouped at 270, two shots better than world number one Tiger Woods.

Coceres became the ninth player to win twice on the PGA Tour this season.

"Now I demonstrated that I could win two and maybe why not three?" said Coceres.

This title, however, seemed in doubt on the front nine as Coceres played the first eight holes in even par, allowing Love to tie him for the lead at 19-under and seven others to get within two shots.

But the Argentine got it going as he approached the turn, sinking birdie putts within 10 feet from numbers nine through 11, while Love bogeyed the ninth to drop two shots off the lead.

The victory jumped Coceres from 56th to 33rd on the money list with nearly $1.5 million, thanks to the $612,000 top prize.