Former U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory Sunday over Jay Haas and Danny Edwards at the First Tee Open.

Simpson, who began the final round trailing Tom Kite by two strokes, captured his first Champions Tour title with a 12-under 204 total.

Simpson, who claimed the 1987 U.S. Open with a one-stroke margin over Tom Watson at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, had to wait for a few groups, including Haas and Edwards, who both missed mid-length putts to tie for the lead.

Edwards, who had a final-round 68, and Haas, who shot a 70, finished at 205.

Massy Kuramoto, who began the final round seven shots off the lead, carded a 65 for the day's best round and finished alone at 206. Kite, who had a final-round 73, and Eduardo Romero, who shot 71, were at 207.

The 50-year-old Simpson, a seven-time PGA Tour winner, joined the Champions Tour late last season and played in four events. Simpson also played in nine PGA Tour events last season and two Nationwide Tour events in 2005.

Simpson earned $300,000 US the second-largest paycheque of his PGA Tour and Champions Tour careers.

Kuramoto, who was 7 under for the round through nine holes, briefly was tied for the lead at 10 under after nine holes but finished with nine straight pars on the back nine.

Defending champion Hale Irwin, who has won on either the PGA Tour or Champions Tour every year since 1993, shot a final-round 72 and finished at 4-under 212. Winless this season, Irwin has six tournaments remaining in the 2006 season to continue his streak.

The tournament was sponsored by Wal-Mart.

© The Canadian Press, 2007