Couples Wins in Canada

Fred Couples chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th hole at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club and then on the first sudden-death playoff hole - also the 18th - got a birdie to edge Billy Andrade and win the Champions Tour's $2.25 million Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary.

In regulation, the 54-year-old Couples carded five birdies and two eagles - his other eagle came on the par-5 11th - for a closing 9-under 61 on the par-70 Canyon Meadows course. Couples carded a 6-under 29 on the back nine.

He tied his good friend Andrade - who also had a hot last round of 62 - at 15-under 195 over 54 holes.

Couples' birdie on the first extra hole - thanks to a brilliant third shot that stopped 6 inches from the cup - gave the Seattle native and World Golf Hall of Fame member his 11th title on the over-50 circuit; his previous victory came in March at the Toshiba Classic. He earned $337,500 Sunday.

The 50-year-old Andrade, a rookie on the Champions Tour, carded seven birdies and a bogey before he also eagled the 18th hole in regulation to force extra holes with Couples. He posted a par on the playoff hole, two-putting from 35 feet, giving Couples the victory.

"No bogeys is good," Couples said. "I consider this to be a nice tricky, tough, little course."

Despite his disappointment, Andrade tipped his cap to the winner and the local fans. "Hats off to Fred and move on," Andrade said. "When you lose you lose. You don't really feel great about it. So, we'll get them next week in Quebec . . . I really had a wonderful time up here, but you want to win it when you get this close."

Sharing third at 13-under 197 were Steve Lowery (64) and Joe Daley (67), while another stroke back was Woody Austin (67). Paul Goydos and Bart Bryant, who each shot 67s, tied for seventh at 200.

Sharing ninth at 201 were Kevin Sutherland (67), Steve Elkington (67), Tom Pernice Jr. (69), Mark Mouland (68), Doug Garwood (69) and David Frost (70).

Daley entered Sunday tied for the 36-hole lead with Joe Durant and Bob Tway, who finished with a 73 and 74, respectively, to fall down the leaderboard.

Bernhard Langer, a five-time winner this year and the runaway leader in the Charles Schwab Cup points race, posted a 72 to join seven others at 6-under 204.

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

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