[08/06/01] OMAHA, Neb. Former Vicksburg resident Heath Slocum earned an immediate promotion to the PGA Tour, winning the Omaha Classic for his third Buy.com Tour victory of the season.

Slocum, whose father Jack was the pro at Clear Creek golf course, closed with a 6-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Australia’s Rod Pampling.

Slocum, 27, had a 22-under 266 total, and earned $94,500 to push his tour-leading total to a tour-record $337,090.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s still a little hard to grasp.”

The former South Alabama star won the Greater Cleveland Open and Knoxville Open in a three-week span in June and early July.

He’s exempt on the PGA Tour through 2002.

Chris Smith is the only other player to earn a “Battlefield Promotion” to the PGA Tour, winning the 1997 Omaha Classic for his third victory of the year.

Pampling closed with a 65.

Slocum, a 5-foot-8, 150-pounder, was born in Baton Rouge, La., and lives in Pensacola, Fla.

He had six top 10 finishes in 17 events this year.