Allen Pulls off Win in Mississippi


Michael Allen closed with a 5-under 67 and then waited to see what would happen with Bernhard Langer in the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak in Biloxi. It was only when Langer over-shot the 18th green and couldn't hole out his birdie chip that Allen secured his fourth Champions Tour title.

In the 54-hole, $1.6 million event Allen finished at 11-under 205, a stroke lower than Langer, who closed with a 70. Allen, a 54-year-old from San Mateo, Calif., earned $240,000.

The situation was the same in the tournament last year for Allen, who waited to see if he'd be in a playoff with Fred Couples. But Couples sank an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th for the victory.

"This feels a whole lot better than last year, hearing the fans sheer as Fred made the (winning) putt," Allen said at greenside.

Tied for third at 208 were Russ Cochran (67), Gene Sauers (71) and Tom Pernice, Jr. (71). Two strokes further back were Rocco Mediate (67), David Frost (69) and Peter Senior (72), with senior tour rookie Steve Elkington (71) and Roger Chapman (75) at 211.

Langer, Chapman, Joe Daley and Corey Pavin began the final round tied for the lead. Daley closed with a 77 to fall into a tie for 18th at 3-under 213, while Pavin stumbled to a 78 for a share 27th at 214.

Couples opened with a 72 and 66 but shot 74 Sunday to tie for 12th at 212 with John Cook (67), Scott Hoch (70), Jay Don Blake (72), Olin Browne (73) and Duffy Waldorf (74).

With his runner-up finish, Langer replaced Frost as the points' leader on the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race. The victory moved Allen to sixth.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.