Riegger Gets Maiden Title on Champions Tour


John Riegger matched hard-charging John Cook's three birdies in the final four holes to win the Champions Tour's Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge east of Seattle.

The 50-year-old Riegger, a rookie making only his fifth start, closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 15-under 201 in the 54-hole event, two shots clear of Cook, who shot a 66.

Playing ahead of Riegger, Cook, a nine-time winner on the over-50 circuit, put pressure on the leader with his birdie run Sunday. But Riegger, a two-time winner on the Web.com Tour, responded.

Before Riegger's clutch closing stretch that involved birdies on two par-5s - the 15th and 18th, and another one on the par-4 16th, the Illinois native carded two birdies and a bogey. Over three rounds he posted only four bogeys.

The 55-year-old Cook, who recorded seven birdies and a bogey Sunday, was the only threat to Riegger, who began Sunday with a three-shot edge over the field thanks to opening rounds of 69 and 64.

With a 66, Seattle native Fred Couples finished four shots back, while tied for fourth at 206 were Gene Sauers (67), John Huston (68), Tom Pernice Jr. (68), Duffy Waldorf (68), Tom Lehman (70), Bobby Clampett (70) and Bernhard Langer (70).

Defending champion Jay Don Blake had a 71 to end up tied for 15th at 6-under 210, while Kenny Perry, the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points' leader, carded a 73 for a T-20 finish at 4-under 212.

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