Jeff Maggert captured his first Champions Tour major title by sinking a three-foot par putt on the first playoff hole to turn back Kevin Sutherland in the Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, Ala.
The 51-year-old Maggert, whose only other victory on the senior circuit came last year in the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, closed with an even-par 72 that included a three-foot par putt on the 72nd hole after he missed from about the same distance to make bogey on the previous hole.
“This was a tournament I was looking forward to,” said Maggert, who won three times in his career on the PGA Tour. “I kind of pointed it out early in my schedule and kind of wanted to get my game in shape to come here and play. I love the golf course. Things just came together well.
“I couldn’t buy a putt on the back nine and it was getting a little frustrating. I just rushed it a little bit probably on 17. I should have taken a little more time there. Then (I made) the little putt here on the last (hole) after missing a few of those on the back nine.”
Sutherland, from Sacramento and Fresno State, was seeking his first victory on the Champions Tour after winning only once on the PGA Tour, but drove into a fairway bunker on the playoff hole and missed a long putt for par before Maggert holed the winner.
Gene Sauers birdied the last two holes to shoot 69 and wound up three shots back in a tie for third with Jeff Hart, who also had a 69.
Michael Allen of San Mateo and Nevada-Reno closed with a 68 and was five shots back in a tie for fifth with Bernhard Langer of Germany, who totaled 70, Tom Lehman, who finished with a 69, and Kenny Perry, who came in at 70.
Tom Pernice Jr. of UCLA posted a 71 and was another stroke back in a tie for ninth with Fred Funk, who struggled to a 74.
