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By John Bush
PGA TOUR Staff

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. -- While the likes of Gary Player, Kevin Costner, Wayne Gretzky, George Lopez and Catherine Bell held the spotlight for the first six days of the BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs, Australian Nick Flanagan stole the show on Sunday with his second consecutive Nationwide Tour victory.

Nick Flanagan birdied his last three holes to win by a shot. (WireImage)

Flanagan posted a spectacular 7-under-par 65 to edge Nicholas Thompson (64) by a single shot to become the first player since Jason Gore in 2005 to win in back-to-back starts.

"Two for two is good fun," said Flanagan, a 22-year-old native of New South Wales, Australia. "I'm planning on playing the next three weeks so hopefully I'll get another one soon."

Despite hitting into a hazard and making his only bogey of the day on the par-3 second hole, Flanagan was nearly flawless the entire day -- hitting 14 of 14 fairways and racking up eight birdies -- including six in his final eight holes.

"I wanted to hit nine greens on the back nine," said Flanagan, who led the field this week with 26.5 putts per round. "I managed to hit eight of them and luckily that was enough. I felt really good hitting the ball this week and I putted well all week."

After winning the Henrico County Open three weeks ago, Flanagan decided to skip the Fort Smith Classic, instead spending two weeks in Australia to recharge his batteries. During that time he admittedly was glued to the couch for four days doing next to nothing, before beginning a week-long routine of surfing early in the day and practicing in the afternoon.

"I played too many in a row last year," said Flanagan. "This year I'm trying to schedule myself better. It keeps me feeling fresh and not all golfed out. It is obviously working."

It is working so well, in fact, that the $117,000 first-place check on Sunday moves Flanagan into the top spot on the money list with $229,077. That figure, many believe, guarantees his inclusion at the end of the season in The 25. It wasn't money that was on Flanagan's mind as he met with the media following Sunday's win, however, but his quest for one more victory.

"Hopefully I've cemented myself in the Top 25 now," said Flanagan. "But better yet, this means I only need one more win. I'd love to go out and win another one and be able to play the last half of the year on the PGA TOUR. This means I can just go out and have fun the rest of the year."

For awhile Sunday it appeared third-round leader Richard Johnson (70) would wrap up his third career victory, but a disastrous double bogey on the par-5 13th hole proved to be his downfall. He finished two shots back and in a tie for third place with Marc Turnesa (66).

As for Flanagan, he is off to a U.S. Open Qualifier in North Carolina on Monday before making the next three starts on Tour. Should he succeed in qualifying for the U.S. Open, he'll play at the famed Oakmont County Club -- the site of his U.S. Amateur triumph in 2003.

"I haven't been back there since I won," said Flanagan, who at the age of 19 was the first Australian in 100 years to win the prestigious amateur event -- and the youngest with the exception of an 18-year-old Tiger Woods. "It would be nice to be able to play there again. Actually I wouldn't mind an exemption but I don't think they give those out for the U.S. Open."

As for his mode of transportation over the next few weeks, Flanagan will be sporting around in a brand-new BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle -- the first car ever given to the winner of a Nationwide Tour tournament.

"I've never owned a car," said Flanagan. "This is a nice one to have as my first. My neighbor across the street would lend me his pick-up truck when I first started driving. Since then, I've been living out of hired cars for the past three years."

Final Round News & Notes: Nick Flanagan's win is the 29th on Tour by an Australian, the most by any country outside of the United States ... Despite a runner-up finish, Nicholas Thompson fell to No. 2 on the money list. He credits a switch following the first round from a cross-handed putting grip to a conventional one for his excellent play the rest of the week. After opening with three 3-putts the first day, he didn't have any the final three days and posted just one bogey ... Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey struggled to a 5-over 77 on Sunday, falling from solo-second place to T30. Gainey will be on the GOLF CHANNEL on Tuesday night competing for the title of Big Break VII: Reunion ... The team of Darren Angel/Janet Jones-Gretzky edged Jimmy Walker/George Rogers by two strokes to claim the pro-am/pro-celebrity portion of the tournament. Jones-Gretzky received a BMW Z4 Roadster for her efforts ... With Richard Johnson failing to win, the 54-hole leader has now won just four of 10 tournaments this season... There were six bogey-free rounds on Sunday, bringing the total for the week to 24. One of those was turned in by Pat Sheehan (T7), who ended the tournament with 40 consecutive bogey-free holes ... The final-round average at the Cliffs Valley Course on Sunday was 70.567. Cumulative scoring averages for the week: Cliffs Valley (70.872), Keowee Vineyards (71.161) and Walnut Cove (73.970) ... The Nationwide Tour heads to Maryland next week for the inaugural Melwood Prince George's County Open, to be played at the par-72 Country Club at Woodmore. Should Flanagan prevail, he'll join Jason Gore as the only players in Tour history to win in three consecutive starts.