Wood Nails Down First Champions Tour Title


Willie Wood, a Monday qualifier, closed with a 4-under 68 to tie Michael Allen at 13-under 203, then won with a par on the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, to win the Dick's Sporting Goods Open for his first victory on the Champions Tour. The 54-hole, $1.8 million Champions Tour event took place at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y.

Wood, a 51-year-old from Texas who now resides in Oklahoma, carded six birdies - including a crucial one on the 18th that tied Allen - and a double-bogey on the par-3 fourth hole Sunday. Allen fired five birdies, an eagle on the par-5 12th and a lone bogey en route to a 66.

On the playoff hole, Allen's drive went way left where he was forced to take a drop from a water feature, essentially ending his chances for a fourth victory on the over-50 circuit. Wood played the hole safely, and secured his first title since the 1996 Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic, his only victory on the PGA Tour.

The win was worth $270,000. "I've worked really hard for this," Wood said in a television interview. "Now I have a place to play without having to go through Monday qualifying. That's a good feeling."

Finishing tied for third at 204 were Joey Sindelar (66), Kenny Perry (67), Tom Lehman (67) and Brad Faxon (71).

Defending champion and 36-hole leader John Huston, struggled on Sunday, closing with a 5-over 77 to drop all the way down the leaderboard into a tie for 21st at 209.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/current/s008.