AMERICA’S Tom Pernice Jr. has won the US Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, defeating fellow countryman Jay Haas with a birdie on the fourth hole of a playoff.
For the 55-year-old Pernice it was his second Champions Tour win of the year but not enough to claim the season-long Charles Schwab Cup, clinched last week by Germany’s Bernhardt Langer.
Pernice closed with a 3-under 67 in regulation at the Desert Mountain Cochise Course in Scottsdale, Arizona , to match Haas (66) at 11-under for the tournament.
They each had their chances in four holes of a dramatic playoff but Pernice clinched his fourth senior tour win with a birdie when they replayed the 18th for the third time.
Pernice earned US$440,000 for the win, which was limited to the top 30 on the money list. He also won a playoff in Iowa in June and has added his four career victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning twice on the PGA Tour.
Kenny Perry eagled the final hole for a 68 to finish a stroke back, while Langer closed with a 65 to tie for fourth with Colin Montgomerie (67) at 9 under.
Langer wrapped up his second Charles Schwab Cup points title last week and earned US$158,000 this week to break Hale Irwin’s tour money winning record with US$3,074,189 for the season.
The 57-year-old led the tour with five victories, two of them majors, and had 12 top-three finishes in 20 starts. He also won the season points title in 2010. Montgomerie finished second in the cup in what is his second year on the tour.
Peter Senior and Steve Elkington season wrap-up
Australia’s Champions Tour regulars Peter Senior and Steve Elkington didn’t make the top 30 money winners list in 2014.
Senor finished 45th in the Cup and 44th in the money list with two top ten finishes, eight top 25s and just one missed cut in 22 starts. He earned a not to be sneezed at US$383,551.
That was the 55 year old’s worst season finish in his five years on the tour, with his best seventh in 2011 and the previous worst 20th in his first year in 2010.
Senior has previously suggested he will continue to play in the US till the long putter anchoring ban is introduced in 2016.
Elkington was in his second year on the tour, playing in just 14 events and finishing 41st in the Charles Schwab Cup and 52nd in the money rankings.
Elkington had four top 10’s, six top 25’s and also just one missed cut. He earned US$310,738 in official winnings, but has also been busy with his media and associated activities.
US Champions Tour Results