Gainey Adds to Fine Season with another Title


Tommy Gainey didn't care if his latest victory came in a tournament that wasn't an official event. On Sunday the 37-year-old South Carolinian, who won the McGladrey Classic in October, took the Pebble Beach Invitational, a 72-hole pro-am gathering on California's Monterey Peninsula.

Gainey closed with a 3-under 69 to edge Kirk Triplett and William McGirt by a stroke, earning $60,000 of the $300,000 total purse. He finished at 11-under 277.

The player known as "Two Gloves" for his penchant of wearing a golf glove on each hand, made a three-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links to seal the victory.

"I was looking at the scoreboard and I knew I needed the putt to win," said Gainey, who won the McCladrey Classic with a 10-under-par 60 in the final round for his first PGA Tour title. "I was glad it went in."

Playing in the group ahead of Gainey, Triplett and McGirt both had chances to reach 11-under but each missed birdie tries on the 18th. "I figured if I got to 10-under, I'd have a chance to win," said Triplett, who notched his first Champions Tour title in the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach earlier in July.

The casual event hosted by golf-equipment manufacturer Callaway features an eclectic field. Other scores included a closing 69 by World Golf Hall of Fame member, the retired Annika Sorenstam, who finished at 1 over.

"For me, there's just rust and not playing often," said Sorenstem. "That's when you notice the biggest difference."

The Swede, who racked up 72 LPGA titles before retiring from competition in 2008 to concentrate on her family and business concerns, was paired with another Hall of Famer, Juli Inkster. Inkster, now 52, became the first and only female player to win the Pebble Beach Invitational in 1990.

Sorenstam finished at 1-over 289 while Inkster was two strokes further back.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pebblebeach.com/images/stories/pdf/Callaway_Scores_Pro_2012_Round4.pdf.