Mediate a record setter at Sr. PGA
Rocco Mediate smokes a cigar as he looks down the second fairway during the final round of the Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Mich., Sunday.
Rocco Mediate holds up the Senior PGA Championship trophy following the final round at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Mich., Sunday.
Rocco Mediate holed out from a greenside bunker for birdie on the par-3 17th to wrap up a record-setting, wire-to-wire victory Sunday in the Senior PGA Championship.
Smoking cigars during the round, the 53-year-old Mediate closed with a 5-under 66, holing a 15-footer for par on the last hole at Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores, for a three-stroke victory over two-time defending champion Colin Montgomerie.
Mediate finished at 19-under 265 to break the tournament record of 268 set by Sam Snead in 1973 at PGA National. The six-time PGA Tour winner became the first wire-to-wire winner in the event since Nicklaus in 1991 at PGA National.
Mediate matched the course and tournament records with an opening 62 and added rounds of 66 and 71 to take a two-stroke lead over Montgomerie into the final round.
“I didn’t know I shot 66,” Mediate said. “I didn’t know what the heck I shot today. … A lot of great things happened today and I don’t believe I’m sitting here. I really don’t.”
The bunker shot on 17 was the highlight of the day at the major championship.
“That was sick,” Mediate said. “As soon as it left the club, I knew it had a chance. Obviously, I didn’t know it was going to make it, of course not, but I had a feeling it might. That made a big difference. It made a huge difference. Because Monty was there for three. At least three. And if I make bogey there, and it goes to one shot going to the last hole, who knows what happens? Who knows? So it was very fortunate at that time.”
Mediate won for the third time on the 50-and-over tour, with the first two coming in 2013.
Spieth wins again: Jordan Spieth birdied his final three holes, chipping in from behind the 17th green and closing with a 34-foot putt, and shot a 5-under 65 to win at Colonial for his first home state victory.
It was the eighth career win for Spieth, the world’s No. 2-ranked player, and came in his third tournament since blowing a five-stroke lead on the back nine last month when trying to win the Masters for the second year in a row. He will try to defend his U.S. Open title in three weeks.
Wood wins European title: Chris Wood shot a front-nine 29 before overcoming a late run of bogeys to win the BMW PGA Championship for the biggest victory of his career, as overnight leader Scott Hend imploded in the final round.
Jutanugarn wins LPGA event: Ariya Jutanugarn became the first player to win three straight LPGA Tour events in three years, closing with a 5-under 67 for a five-stroke victory in the Volvik Championship.
The 20-year-old Jutanugarn is the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three consecutive tournaments and the first ever to make their first three career victories consecutive.
Jutanugarn finished at 15-under 273 at Travis Pointe after starting the day with a one-shot edge thanks to a closing eagle in the third-round.
Jutanugarn became the first Thai winner in tour history three weeks ago in Alabama and followed that up last week with a victory in Virginia.
Sheary capturers Symetra event: Natalie Sheary completed a wire-to-wire victory in the W.B. Mason Championship for her first Symetra Tour title in 88 career starts. The former Wake Forest player from West Hartford, Connecticut, closed with a 3-over 74 for a one-stroke victory over Marissa Steen.