Mathew Goggin won the Nationwide Tour's season-opening Panama Championship, shooting a 2-under 68 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Australian countryman Alistair Presnell and American Darron Stiles.
The 36-year-old Goggin, a two-time winner on the developmental tour in 1999, had an 11-under 269 total at the Golf Club of Panama. He earned $99,000.
''It's been a long time,'' said Goggin, who spent the past five years and nine of the last 11 on the PGA Tour. ''I've had some opportunities over the years but it's tough to win. It's tough to win anywhere.''
He opened with rounds of 68, 66 and 67.
''You don't have to shoot the best score every day, you just have to have the best one at the end,'' Goggin said. ''I accumulated the best score this week. Today was a day where it was more a question of momentum to lose. Par was a good score, it wasn't one to go on a birdie spree.''
Stiles finished with a 66, and Presnell shot a 73.
Erik Compton, the two-time heart transplant recipient who had the lead midway through the final round, shot a 75 - making a double bogey on the final hole - to tie for fourth with Tommy Biershenk (68) at 8 under.
''I was trying to win the golf tournament on 18. I tried to hit a hard wedge and get it close,'' said Compton, whose shot spun off the front of the green.
