PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Brian Cairns of Walled Lake, Mich., earned his first PGA Tournament Series victory of the season (Dec. 13) after completing a bogey-free round of five-under-par 67 on the Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

At 136, Carins finished two strokes ahead of Rod Perry of Port Orange, Fla., who clinched The PGA of America's Professional Player of the Year award by winning a similar 36-hole tournament earlier in the week at the nearby PGA Country Club. Through 36 holes, Cairns made nine birdies and a bogey.

Cairns, PGA teaching professional at Fox Hills Golf & Banquet in Plymouth, Mich., earned $1,675 from the $6,500 purse. Perry shot a pair of 69s to finish second among 26 starters.

"I made a lot of putts today, that was the difference," said Cairns, the Michigan PGA Player of the Year the last two years. "I've been playing pretty steady the last couple of years, played in a couple of PGA Championships. It's all been good."

Cairns flew back to Michigan after the Dec. 6 tournament, but returned late Saturday. Rather than play early Sunday, he got a lesson from Michigan professional John Traub at The Fox Club in nearby Palm City. "We worked four or five hours on my long game," Cairns said. "Now I've got to call him and see if I can get another lesson Friday on my short game."

David Yokitis of Pittsburgh, the first round leader Wednesday with 66, added 82 for 148, tumbling off the money list to a 20th place finish.