Mediate Wins Champions Tour Debut


Despite closing with a 1-under 71, Rocco Mediate took advantage of his three-stroke lead entering the final round to win the Allianz Championship, held on the Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton, Fla.

The victory, worth $270,000, came in the 50-year-old Mediate's first tournament on the Champions Tour. The Pennsylvania native carded three birdies and a pair of bogeys to reach 17-under 199, two strokes ahead of Tom Pernice Jr. (70) and Bernhard Langer (68).

Defending champion Corey Pavin and Mark O'Meara - who both carded 69s - shared fourth at 205.

Mediate's maiden win was propelled by an 11-under 61 Saturday, which smashed the tournament record of 63 set by Craig Stadler in 2007, and was one stroke better than his all-time tour professional best at Colonial in 2001.

With his victory Sunday, Mediate became the 16th player to win in his first start on the Champions Tour.

Ending up in sixth at 207 were 2012 Charles Schwab Cup champion Tom Lehman (66), Duffy Waldorf (67) and Fred Funk (71).

Bart Bryant also made his debut on the over-50 circuit this week. After opening with promising rounds of 67 and 70, the three-time PGA Tour winner closed with a 3-over 75 to slip into a tie for 33rd at 212.

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