Rachels beats Quigley in playoff

Sammy Rachels was busy worrying about his playing partners Sunday in the Bruno's Memorial Classic. Dana Quigley just sneaked up on him.

Rachels made a 10-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with Quigley, earning $210,000 for his first victory of the season and third on the Senior PGA Tour.

``I didn't even know about Dana until I was on the 17th hole. I looked over there and said, 'Where'd he come from?''' Rachels said.

Rachels closed with a 5-under 67 to match Quigley at 15-under 201, outdistancing more high-profile playing partners Hale Irwin and Larry Nelson.

Rachels holed the winning putt on the 17th hole after Quigley missed an 18-footer and tapped in for par. Both players birdied the 18th hole to begin the playoff.

Rachels raised his hands in the air an instant before his winning putt went in the hole. He pumped his right fist once as fans yelled ``You da man, Sammy!''

``It probably won't get any better than this,'' said Rachels, who was celebrating his 31st wedding anniversary with wife Pia.

Rachels went from spectacular to rock-solid, following a scorching second-round 64 with three straight birdies as the sun finally came out in a tournament delayed three times by rain.

Rachels parred the final eight holes, forcing the challengers to play catch-up.

``I didn't have to deal with any adversity out there,'' Rachels said. ``I don't know what I would have done if they had. There was nothing for me to think of other than keeping things going and don't mess up. I was thinking, 'Don't mess up' pretty regularly there at the end.''

The paycheck nearly matched Rachels' earnings in 123 events on the PGA Tour ($226,796). He hadn't finished in the top 20 in his last five tournaments.

Quigley caught the Floridian with a birdie on the 17th in regulation, hitting it in from nearly the spot where Rachels would clinch the title minutes later.

Quigley, who eagled the par-5 second hole, had set a senior record with his 178th consecutive start.

``I had to make a statement early on that they didn't have to worry just about the guys in the last group,'' he said.

Nelson, the second-round leader, finished one stroke back with a final-day 70. A birdie on the 17th or 18th could have put him in the playoff, but he settled for pars.

``I made some good shots coming in and just ran out of holes,'' Nelson said.

Irwin failed to become the first repeat winner in the tournament's 11-year history. He also closed with a 70 and finished two strokes back, thanks largelyto a double bogey on the par-4 12th.

Divots

: Chi Chi Rodriguez sank about a 100-yarder for eagle on the 18th hole. He celebrated with his trademark swordsman dance and earned a huge ovation from the gallery. He shot a 67 to tie for 29th at 5-under 211 ... Rachels moved into 13th place in the Charles Schwab Cup points race with 314. Irwin (1,018) remains in first and Quigley (747) is second. ... Irwin ran into trouble several times on the back nine. First, he four-putted from about 20 feet on the 12th for double bogey. On 14, his ball hit the back of the cup, bounced out and rolled into the rough. Irwin drilled that shot for birdie, and did the same onthe 18th after his sailed into the gallery.

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