AMERICA’S Michael Allen shot a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke victory in the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship on the weekend, while Bernhard Langer wrapped up his second Charles Schwab Cup title.
Allen birdied three of the final four holes on TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Canyons Course, holing a 5-footer on No. 18. He finished at 15-under 201 for his second victory of the season and seventh overall on the 50-and-over tour. He also won the Allianz Championship in Florida in February.
“I felt like I really needed a birdie on the 15th hole,” Allen said. “It was right in the center, a beautiful putt. You always wonder if you can win again. It’s nice to get over that hurdle.”
Marco Dawson (71) was second on 13-under after a bogey on the last while another American in Woody Austin (71) was outright third a stroke further back.
Langer knew coming down the stretch he needed to finish at least in a tie for seventh to claim the season-long money winner title a week early and tailored his game to do just that – and no more.
In the end the German closed with a 69 and with other results falling his way finished tied for sixth at 10-under. Langer had a tour-high five victories during the season – two of them majors.
“I’m a guy who tries his best whenever I tee it up, and I’m still going to tee it up next week [in the tour championship] hoping to win the tournament,” Langer said. “There’s still a lot of money on the line. But there’s a little less pressure now. I get to enjoy it.”
Senior and Elkington fail to make Charles Schwab Cup Championship
Australia’s Peter Senior (71) finished at 5-under tied for 25th but that unfortunately wasn’t enough to lift him into the 30-golfer season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Senior finished 45th on the money list with the other Aussie Champions Tour regular Steve Elkington also falling short at 41st.
Esteban Toledo, 31st on the money list entering the week, birdied the final three holes for a 68 to tie for 12th at 8 under and move to 27th and into the championship field.
He bumped Mark Calcavecchia, 30th entering the week, from the Schwab field. Calcavecchia tied for 72nd in the 81-player field at 4 over with rounds of 77-72-76.
Rocco Mediate started the week 32nd in the money earnings and gave himself a chance at advancing to next week even though he opened his back nine with two-straight bogeys. Following a par at No. 12, Mediate rolled off five birdies over his closing six holes for a 66, but he finished 31st in the money standings.
“I haven’t done that in a while,” Mediate said. “It was like a do-or-die situation. I can take that to next year.”
US Champions Tour Leaderboard