Pernice Survives Playoff to Win Charles Schwab Cup Championship


Though it wasn't easy, Tom Pernice Jr. hung in Sunday to win the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The $2.5 million, 72-hole event - the season-ender on the Champions Tour - took place on the Cochise Course at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 55-year-old Pernice, a Kansas City native, began the final round sharing the lead with Kenny Perry. On Sunday, Pernice closed with a 3-under 67 to finish at 11-under 269, the same total as Jay Haas, who carded a 66.

Even though he eagled the par-5 18th, Perry was only able to card a birdie and a bogey in the first 17 holes and finished with a 68, one shot out of the ensuing sudden-death playoff.

Haas and Pernice each got a birdie and a par on the first two playoff holes - also the 18th, then the two went to the 196-yard, par-3 17th, where they each got pars.

Back they went to the 18th for the fourth extra hole. Haas found the waste bunker in front of the green with his second and wasn't able to put his third on the green. He chipped up short but made a 15-foot par putt. Pernice, meanwhile, found a greenside bunker with his approach. After splashing out to six feet, Pernice rolled his birdie try into the hole for the winning birdie.

The victory, worth $440,000, was Pernice's second of the year and his fourth overall on the over-50 circuit. "I'm overwhelmed," he said during the trophy presentation, with his mother beside him. "I'm just honored. It's a privilege for me to hold up this trophy."

Pernice admitted the last day was difficult but ultimately rewarding. "Today I hung in there. I'm thrilled to death."

Haas had a similar sentiment about the four extra holes. "Neither one of us played terrific golf, but hats off to Tom."

Bernhard Langer (65) and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie (67) shared fourth at 271 a stroke behind Perry, while Olin Browne (67) took sixth place at 273. Defending champion Fred Couples (70) and Wes Short Jr. (69) tied for seventh at 6-under 274, with Michael Allen and Gene Sauers - who both shot 70s - another stroke back.

Langer had already sewed up the Charles Schwab Cup title before the tournament started. The 57-year-old German, a five-time winner this year, secured the Cup by finishing tied for sixth in last week's AT&T Championship.

The victory by Pernice - who in June won the Principal Charity Classic - moved him up to fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup's final standings behind Langer, Montgomerie, Haas and Perry.

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