Playoff birdie buoys Purtzer
Tom Purtzer won the Champions Tour's AT&T Champions Classic for the second time in five seasons, beating Loren Roberts with a 17-foot birdie on the fourth hole of a playoff yesterday.
Purtzer closed with a 4-under-par 68 to match Roberts (69) at 10-under 206 on the Valencia Country Club course in Santa Clarita, Calif. The 55-year-old Purtzer earned $240,000 for his fourth career victory on the 50-and-over tour.
"I feel really fortunate, and lucky," said Purtzer, in tears after the victory.
After the players matched pars on their first three trips down the par-5 18th in the playoff, Purtzer finally broke through with his 17-foot birdie putt. Roberts had a chance to match, but his 12-foot birdie try just missed on the right side.
Purtzer credited fellow Tour player Dave Stockton for some recent putting help.
"I have to thank Dave. He gave me a lesson and I putted better," said Purtzer, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour. "I hung in there and played really well."
Purtzer, playing in the group in front of Roberts, made a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 18 in regulation to reach 10 under. Roberts, hampered by back problems, had a chance to win in regulation, but missed a 19-foot birdie try.
"It was a long day," Roberts said. "We took it as far as we could go. I was just happy to get in a playoff. My back has been really bothering me."
David Eger (69) finished a stroke back at 9 under.
Futures -- Former Duke star Liz Janangelo won her first professional title, two-putting for a birdie on the par-5 18th for a one-stroke victory in the Greater Tampa Duramed Futures Classic in Riverview, Fla.
Janangelo, 23, from West Hartford closed with a 1-over 72 in windy conditions for a 2-over 215 total, earning $10,500.
"Walking up the 18th fairway today, I knew I had to make a birdie on that hole. And to be able to do it felt great because I've been struggling with confidence and putting down the stretch," she said. "I had a lot of three-putts this week and that's really unacceptable, but to win is unbelievable. I feel like a lot of hard work is finally paying off."
European -- Chapchai Nirat of Thailand shot a 1-under 71 (22-under 266) to win the TCL Classic in Sanya, China, by three strokes and claim his first victory in a major tournament.
