ESPN Golf

MIAMI -- Former Georgia Tech star Bryce Molder won his first professional title Sunday, closing with a 3-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Boo Weekley in the Miccosukee Championship -- the Nationwide Tour's final full-field event of the year.

The 27-year-old Molder had a 14-under 270 total and earned $90,000 to jump from 49th to 21st on the money list with $202,957 with only the Nationwide Tour Championship left. The top 22 players at the end of the season will earn PGA Tour cards.

"I'm extremely excited, not even about where I am on the money list, but it was the fact that I've learned a lot and come a long way this year," Molder said. "For the first time I was in contention and I actually looked forward to playing today."

Molder, a four-time All-America selection for the Yellow Jackets, was 1 under on his first 10 holes and had no idea where he stood until an errant tee shot on No. 11 proved insightful.

"I hit my tee shot about 100 yards to the right on No. 11 and I looked up at the scoreboard and I'm leading," Molder said. "I really didn't mean to see the scoreboard. At that point I knew I was right in the middle of this. I knew I was going to have to play a good back nine."

Molder birdied Nos. 14-16 to get to 14 under.

"I've had some success along the way, but it wasn't the kind of success where I went out on the last day and tried to win a golf tournament," he said. "I finally let go enough. I wasn't scared of messing up today. That was a big part. I didn't want to but I wasn't scared and that's the big thing."

Weekley also finished with a 68. He watched in disbelief as his 13-foot birdie putt on the final hole to tie slid past the cup. That left Molder, one group back, needing a par for the win. His tee shot found the fairway and set up the winner.

"It was only 143 yards, but under these circumstances nothing is routine. All you have to do is barely miss it and hit it in the rough and this rough is not fun to chip out of," Molder said after hitting an 8-iron shot to 12 feet. "The hardest thing in the world is trying to two-putt. It just is especially when you know you have to. It was nice to see that thing roll up there to about 4 inches."

Jason Dufner (66) finished third at 12 under, Cameron Beckman (69), Cliff Kresge (70) and Tim O'Neal (72) were another stroke back, and Matt Kuchar (66), Stephen Marino (68) and Chad Collins (74) followed at 10 under.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press