TRAVELERS REST, S.C -- Ken Duke broke through Sunday for his first career Nationwide Tour victory Sunday at the $625,000 BMW Charity Pro-Am at The Cliffs.

Duke fired a final-round 4-under-par 68 at the Cliffs Valley course to finish at 13-under-par 273, one stroke in front of Jess Daley (69).

Grant Waite -- who equaled the round of the day with a 5-under 67 -- finished in a tie for third with Kevin Stadler (70) at 11-under-par 275.

"You never know when it is going to be your turn," said Duke, a native of Hope, Arkansas. "There are so many good players out here on this Tour. It is a relief to finally win."

Duke survived a final round that seemed to produce as many as 15 players with a legitimate shot to win one of the most coveted titles on the Nationwide Tour. After birdieing the par-5 17th hole to take a one-stroke lead -- and then making a testy 5-footer for par on the final hole -- Duke nervously watched as Daley and Stadler failed in their bid to force a playoff.

"I knew if I made a good stroke and followed through that my last putt was going to go in," said Duke, who wins in his 83rd career start on the Nationwide Tour. "As a professional athlete, you always dream of how it is going to end. Then you always think someone is going to make that last putt to go in a playoff. It was a relief when it was finally over."

Duke credits recent golf lessons from Bob Toski -- generally regarded as one of the game’s top instructors -- for his success this week in South Carolina foothills.

"I’ve been working with Mr. Toski and I knew felt like my golf swing would hold up this week," said the 37-year-old Duke. "I played so good this week all four days. I’ve never really had lessons before. I’ve always been a self-taught player, but when Mr. Toski tells you to come see him -- you listen."

Ken Duke hit 86.1 percent of his greens in regulation for the week. (Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

Duke’s recently revamped golf swing led to a No. 2 ranking this week in Greens in Regulation, including 13 of 14 during the final round.

"I’ve been a lot more consistent in hitting greens in regulation and in driving accuracy," said Duke.

With the victory, Duke picks up $112,500 and moves from No. 20 to No. 5 on the Tour money list with $152,040. He also moves a step closer to the PGA TOUR, where he finished No. 166 on the money list during his rookie season in 2004.

"I’ve always told my wife when I didn’t feel like I was getting better I would quit," said Duke. "But I’m a positive person. I’ve never gotten to that point."

Sunday’s victory assures that Duke won’t be hanging up his spikes any time soon. His immediate plans call for an attempt to Monday Qualify at this week’s Wachovia Championship. If he fails to do so, he will head up to the Tour’s eighth stop of the season at the Virginia Beach Open.

Final Round News and Notes: The final standings from the pro/celebrity and pro-amateur teams are as follows: 1. Steve Collins/Brook Cely (-38), T2. Cliff Kresge/Randy Giddens (-32), Franklin Langham/Bob Smith (-32), 4. P.H. Horgan III/Lauren Rose (-31), T5. Johnson Wagner/Brad Skelton (-30), Matt Weibring/Pat Green (-30), T7. Joe Alfieri/Jim Davis (-28), Scott Petersen/Scott Minton (-28), T9. Keoke Cotner/Lisa O’Hurley (-27), Nick Malinowski/Frank Davis (-27), Kim Felton/John O’Hurley (-27), Bobby Gage/Rick Burns (-27), Craig Lile/Paul Van Den Bosch (-27) and 14. David Roesch/Jerry Burns (-26).