Quigley claims season opening title

Dana Quigley looked as if he was in midseason form. Playing everyday does that for a guy.

Quigley, the iron man of the Champions Tour, birdied two of the last three holes for a 5-under par 67 Sunday and a two-stroke victory over Larry Nelson in the season-opening MasterCard Championship.

Quigley finished at 18-under-par 198 at Hualalai Golf Club to capture his eighth career victory worth $250,000, the biggest check of his career.

Nelson, coming off a winless season, had a chance to force a playoff with a birdie on the final hole, but pulled a sand wedge into a green-side bunker and made bogey. He shot 69 to finish second, while Fuzzy Zoeller was another stroke back after shooting 70.

Quigley, Nelson, and Zoeller began the day tied for the lead and the three jockeyed for position throughout the day until Quigley took the lead for good at the 14th hole with a two-putt birdie. He also birdied No. 16 and hit a wedge to 14 inches at the final hole after Nelson birdied 16 and 17 to climb back within a stroke.

Nelson hit the fairway at 18, but his ball came to rest near a sprinkler head. Standing partially in the depression from the sprinkler, he pulled his wedge from 109 yards left of the green. He blasted out and two-putted.

Tom Watson closed with a 67 to tie for fourth with Stewart Ginn (69) at 203.

Defending champion Tom Kite shot 70 to tie for 11th at 206 with four others, including Jack Nicklaus, the course designer, who shot 66, his lowest round since the 1996 Tradition.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page