Appleby holds off charge by Singh

Stuart Appleby fired a two-under-par 71 to hold off Vijay Singh's late charge and win the Mercedes Championship by a stroke in Hawaii.

The Australian, who led by six shots with seven holes remaining at Kapalua, finished the opening tournament of the 2004 US Tour on 22-under-par 270.

Singh's closing 70 included four birdies in the last five holes, giving the Fijian his ninth top-six finish since August. Ulsterman Darren Clarke was third on 275 after also shooting 70 in the final round.

World No1 Tiger Woods and South Africa's Retief Goosen tied for fourth on 15-under-par. It was Appleby's fifth victory on the tour and he said: "I didn't need to go out and make birdies. I didn't have to go smashing anything in the hole.

"There was definitely a momentum change late on but I really felt like that it was up to Vijay to catch me. I wasn't going to let him have anything for free. He would have to earn it."