Rich Beem reeled off seven birdies in nine holes during the final round to spur him to victory in The International at the Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado.

Beem, whose only previous victory on the US PGA Tour was at the 1999 Kemper Open, scored 19 points in the closing round to finish on 44 points and one point ahead of Steve Lowery.

The 31-year-old had to watch Lowery make a late charge, with two eagles in the last five holes giving him 16 points for his final round.

Beem began the final round in fourth position, but took control with four consecutive birdies from the fourth hole.

He then picked up more points at the ninth, 10th and 12th to take a commanding lead and put himself in line for victory by earning five points for an eagle at the par-five 17th.

Lowery had recorded just two points through the 13th, having made four bogeys in his round, but then put together a birdie-eagle-bogey-eagle sequence.

However, a par at the 18th hole left Lowery one point short of Beem's final total.

"When I was sitting there watching, I wasn't really thinking about anything," Beem said about his anguishing wait.

"I was thinking, hey, there's nothing I can do, that I played as good as I can.

"It was out of my control. So that was probably the most frustrating.

Relieving

"Watching Steve have the opportunity to win was certainly one of the most stressful times of my life.

"It was the longest 10 minutes of my life, but you know what, it was all worth it. I'm at such a high right now, it's unbelievable.

"But also the most relieving thing was that I didn't have to go to a play-off if he makes the putt, it's done, it's over with."

Former US PGA champion Mark Brooks was third on 33 points, with Australia's Greg Norman and Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa sharing fourth place on 27.

Overnight leader Craig Barlow, who started the day on 28 points, finished on 25 and in a tie for seventh place.

Final leaderboard (US unless stated):

+44 Rich Beem
+43 Steve Lowery
+33 Mark Brooks
+27 Greg Norman (Aus), Ernie Els (Rsa), Lee Janzen
+25 Frank Lickliter II, Craig Barlow
+23 Tom Lehman, Craig Perks (Nzl)
+22 Heath Slocum, Ian Leggatt (Can)
+21 Brian Watts
+20 Craig Stadler, Glen Day, Chris Riley, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)
+19 Sergio Garcia (Spa)