Golf-American Stiles wins rain-shortened New Zealand PGA

WELLINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Darron Stiles birdied the final hole to capture the New Zealand PGA on Sunday, the American finishing a shot clear of the field in an event reduced to 36 holes after rain washed out the second and third rounds.

Stiles shot a closing four-under-par 68 to finish with a winning total of 10-under 134, ahead of New Zealand's David Smail, who fired a 66 at the Clearwater Resort near Christchurch.

American Rick Price finished a further shot back in third after closing with a 69 while Australia's Adam Crawford was fourth after a 68 in the Australasian PGA Tour event co-sanctioned by the U.S. PGA Tour's secondary tour.

After the tournament was reduced to two rounds, oganisers announced the victory would not be recognised as an official tour win although the prize money would count towards the order of merit.

Stiles, 34, led by four shots approaching the halfway stage of his final round but had to sink a testing two-metre birdie putt on the last hole to avoid a playoff.

"It may have been just the second round but today felt every bit as pressure packed as in a normal fourth round Sunday," he told reporters.

"To make that putt on 18, when that is the area I've been struggling with, was just awesome." (Reporting by Julian Linden in Sydney; Editing by xxxxxxxxxxx)