Paul Broadhurst of England backed up his victory in the Senior Open Championship in July at Carnoustie by claiming his second victory after turning 50 on another iconic course.
The 51-year-old sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to beat Bernhard Langer of Germany and Kevin Sutherland by one stroke in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.
“Obviously, the scoreboards are all around the last four holes, so I was well aware of what was going on and knew I needed to birdie the last to avoid a playoff,” said Broadhurst, who joined Ben Hogan and Tom Watson as the only golfers to win at Carnoustie and Pebble Beach.
“Probably hit two of the best shots I’ve ever hit up 18. Perfect tee shot and a really good utility into the green just on the front edge. I managed to two-putt from 30 feet, so yeah, absolutely delighted.”
Broadhurst’s 4-under-par total of 68 gave him a winning score of 11-under 204.
Langer, the two-time Masters champion who has won 29 times on the PGA Tour Champions, also birdied the final hole but came up short despite a 66, while Sutherland, from Sacramento and Fresno State, birdied three of the last four holes in a 70 and remained winless on the senior circuit.
Joe Durant was two shots back in fourth after a 67, Jerry Smith finished one more stroke behind in fifth following a 68 and David Frost of South Africa was four shots down in sixth with a 65 that was the low score of the day.
Mike Goodes closed with a 70 and was five behind in a tie for seventh with Woody Austin and Greg Kraft, who both had 71s.
Tom Pernice Jr. of UCLA shot 68 to tie for 10th, Michael Allen of San Mateo and Nevada-Reno posted a 67 and finished in a tie for 12th that included Steve Pate of Westlake Village and UCLA, who had a 69, and Olin Browne of Occidental College and Duffy Waldorf of Valencia and UCLA both shot 68 to finish in a tie for 15th.
