Stockton's beat Nicklaus' to claim Champions Challenge
Dave Stockton and Dave Stockton Jr. beat the father-son team of Jack and Michael Nicklaus on the first playoff hole today to win the Champions Challenge.
The younger Stockton hit a wedge within 3 inches to set up a
birdie on the playoff hole of the father-son event involving nine
teams at Thanksgiving Point.
The Stocktons and Nicklauses each shot 12-under-par 60s in the
scramble format, with each team choosing the best of two shots from
each position.
Stockton Jr. made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to
force the playoff, which was also staged on No. 18. The victory was
worth $150,000.
Dave Stockton has won twice and finished second twice in seven
tries in a Senior PGA Tour event at Park City, Utah, playing all 21
rounds under par. This was the Stocktons' first appearance in the
third annual Champions Challenge, hosted by Johnny Miller on a
course he designed.
The Nicklauses made two eagles over the first five holes and
were 11-under through 12 holes. But they bogeyed the par-4 16th,
giving the Stocktons the chance to catch them.
Of the nine teams, only the Stocktons had a Senior PGA Tour-PGA
Tour player combination. Michael Nicklaus, 26, the youngest of Jack's
four sons, recently gave up his pursuit of a competitive golf
career.
