Lehman Pulls off Wire-to-Wire Win in Encompass Championship


Tom Lehman sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Encompass Championship. The $1.8 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event was held at North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Ill.

The 55-year-old Lehman finished with a 2-under 70 and a three-round total of 15-under 201, one shot clear of Michael Allen (67) and Kirk Triplett (68).

Lehman opened with rounds of 65 and 66 en route to the wire-to-wire victory, his seventh on the over-50 circuit and the first for the Minnesotan since the 2012 Charles Schwab Championship.

"It wasn't my very best performance today, but it was good enough," said Lehman, who earned $270,000. "The check is sweet, but the trophy is sweeter," he added.

Lehman opened with nine pars to make the turn in 36; he added four birdies and a pair of bogeys on the home half. "I had a rough start and wasn't putting like I did the first two days," he noted. "It put me in a bit of a bind. After 14, I told my caddie, 'Let's have the best four holes of the week.' "

was Bart Bryant (69).

Russ Cochran (64), Mexico's Esteban Toledo (67), Kenny Perry (68), Jeff Sluman (69), Scotland's Colin Montgomerie (70) and England's Roger Chapman (72) tied for sixth at 10-under 206.

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