Allen Edges Waldorf in Allianz Championship


Though it wasn't easy, Michael Allen was able to secure his sixth Champions Tour title, beating Duffy Waldorf on the second sudden-death playoff hole to win the Allianz Championship. The $1.6 million Champions Tour event took place at the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Fla.

After tying the over-50 circuit's all-time record of 12-under 60 Friday and becoming the first to do so on a par-72 course, Allen shot two straight 69s to finish at 18-under 198. Waldorf began Sunday two strokes out of the lead but matched Allen's 54-hole total with a closing 67.

On the first extra hole, the par-5 18th, both players birdied. The next time down the 18th Allen two-putted for birdie, but Waldorf missed his 8-foot birdie try to extend the playoff another hole.

"I didn't want to be known as the guy who the lowest round on the Champions Tour and didn't win," Allen told reporters later.

"You shoot 60, you think you're going to win a little easier. I thought I should have won in regulation, but it always feels good to win out here."

The 51-year-old Waldorf is still seeking his first Champions Tour victory, while Allen got his sixth along with the winner's share of $240,000.

"The good news is that's as close as I've come to winning," said Waldorf, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour. "I was so far behind after the first day, I was glad to finally catch up on the last hole."

Finishing a stroke out of the playoff was Taiwan's Chien Soon Lu, who carded a 69, while two strokes back in fourth was Tom Lehman.

Bart Bryant (68) and Jay Haas (69) shared fifth at 201. Haas, a nine-time PGA Tour winner who also has 16 titles on the Champions Tour, is still unsuccessful in getting his first win in Florida after 123 career starts.

The round of the day was fired by Mark Calcavecchia. Starting on the 10th tee, the 53-year-old reeled off seven straight birdies, one short of the Champions Tour record. Calcavecchia holds the all-time PGA Tour record with nine straight birdies in the 2009 Canadian Open. The Florida resident also had two bogeys for an 8-under 64.

Defending champion Rocco Mediate closed with a 66 to take a share of seventh at 14-under with Bernard Langer, who also carded a 64 to match Calcavecchia for the low round of the day.

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