Pinehurst, North Carolina-Strong hitting Ben Crenshaw became the first Texan in over fifteen years to win the Southern Golf Association championship as he routed the field in the final round to win the 65th annual event at the famed Country Club of North Carolina.

Crenshaw was never over par as he toured the tough layout in rounds of 70-71-68-72 to win by four shots over Gary Koch, of Temple Terrace, Fla.

Veteran Dale Morey had been in a tight head-to-head duel with Crenshaw and Koch after the first 3 rounds but he had troubles off the tee the last round and tied at 287 with Tom Kite, Jr., Austin, Tex., for third place.

Crenshaw came into the Southern after a stunning seven shot victory in the National Collegiate championship where he and teammate Kite made the University of Texas a tough combine to handle.

The last Texan to win the Southern had been Joe Conrad who took the title by defeating Jimmv Wittenburg, of Memphis, in the 1954 finals. Wittenburg was in the field for the '71 championship.

Crenshaw had passed through Pinehurst a week or so before the tournament and set an unofficial course record while playing a practice round. Then in the first round of the tournament the 19-year-old Koch and Morey set a new record with matching 65s.

Morey and Koch matched 72s the second round and tied for medalist honors at the halfwav point with 137s, three in front of Kite and four ahead of Crenshaw.

Crenshaw finally got a share of the lead with a sizzling third round 68, his third sub-par round, as he and Morey headed to the last 18 with 209 totals. Crenshaw did not have a three putt through the first 54 holes, but faltered on the opening hole of the last round with a three putt, but he still moved ahead for good as Morey found trouble off the tee and took a double bogey six on the first hole.

It was Ben's first appearance in the Southern. He beat an outstanding field. Following Kite and Morey in third, followed former SGA Champion Vinny Giles in fifth at 289, Bobby Edgerton and Corker DeLoach tied for sixth at 290, Dick Pride in eighth and Georgians Charlie Harrison and Tommy Valentine in ninth place at 293.

The 1971 Southern drew a record field of 258 entries and the host Country Club of North Carolina went out of its way to assure the course would be in great condition.