Browning wins men's title at U.S. Pro Skate

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP-CP) -- Canadian Kurt Browning outskated American Todd Eldredge, charmed the crowd with a spirited artistic program to music from That's Entertainment and won the men's crown at the U.S. Pro figure skating championship Saturday night.

Michelle Kwan, showing off a new short haircut and a new short program to music from the opera Carmen, won the women's title.

The event, open to Olympic-eligible and professional skaters, was sanctioned by the International Skating Union. Skaters were required to present two interpretive free skating programs, one technical and the other artistic.

Eldredge had the lead after the technical program, but Browning scored straight 5.9s from all five judges for presentation after his artistic program, giving him the edge.

Browning, trying out a new program as well as new skates, was surprised when he won.

"I was hugging a little girl and she said, 'You won!'" he said.

Philippe Candeloro of France was third, Olympic gold medallist Ilia Kulik a disappointing fourth and followed Rudy Galindo, the hometown favourite, fifth.