PERENNIAL battler David Ogrin clinched his first victory in 405 events on the PGA Tour when he won the $1.2 million LaCantera Texas Open in San Antonio by one stroke yesterday.

Ogrin, who has lived in the region for a decade, used his intimate knowledge of the LaCantera course to eke out a rollercoaster even-par 72.

He tapped in from six inches for a bogey at the last hole to finish at 13 under 275, one shot ahead of fellow American Jay Haas (70), whose long birdie chance on the last hole was short.

Tiger Woods, in only his sixth start as a professional, continued his phenomenal rise with a 67 to finish third, two strokes back.

But the day belonged to Ogrin, who won $216,000 and a prized invitation to next year's Masters, where he has played only once, in 1984.

Ogrin's round comprised seven birdies, six pars, four bogeys and a triple bogey.