Wintu wins golf tournament

Loose Curl

Closes With 65 To Win Connecticut Open By FourFeeling the pressure as a Native American sponsored by the host Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Curl struggled to shoot 1 under and trailed Kyle Gallo by four.

But a pep talk from Kenny Reels, a former Mashantucket chief who is now tribal vice chairman and signed Curl to his only endorsement deal in 2001, eased Curl's fragile psyche.

"He told me just to be myself," said Curl, recipient of the first college scholarship from the Native American Classic in 1998.

After an opening bogey, Curl, who is part Wintu Indian, birdied seven of 11 holes, capped by four in a row at Nos. 10-13, then made a "turning point" 8-foot par putt at the 14th on the way to a tournament-best 65 and a four-stroke victory over Gallo.