Loren Roberts wins first senior title in playoff

It was strange even to Loren Roberts: A playoff bogey got him his first victory on the Champions Tour. And in a major, no less.

``That's the way it goes,'' he said.

Roberts bogeyed the second playoff hole but still won The Tradition on Sunday, beating Dana Quigley, who double-bogeyed the par-4 and failed again to win his first major.

Quigley's 3 1/2 -foot putt for bogey on No. 17 at the Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club lipped out, while Roberts' fell.

Roberts, who turned 50 this year, was playing in just his third event on the tour for those 50 and older. Still playing on the PGA Tour, Roberts chose four Champions Tour events to participate in during his rookie season.

``I wanted to come out here and do well and establish myself early,'' said Roberts, who will also play next week at Pebble Beach. ``That's why this win is so sweet to me.''

Both players had trouble with their second shots on the second playoff hole.

Roberts' rolled far past the hole and the signature bunker in the middle of the green. Quigley's hit a rake near a greenside bunker and stayed right on the edge.

Roberts chipped on the green for his third shot, while Quigley was forced into an awkward stance with one foot in the bunker and the other teetering on the lip. Neither was close and both missed long par putts.

``Shoot, I couldn't even stand there,'' Quigley said about his third shot. ``The ball was up around my waist. ... I don't practice that shot very often.''

On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Roberts seemed to have a huge advantage when his second shot bounced on to the green, putting him in position for an eagle putt. Quigley's second shot went into a greenside bunker but he blasted out to about 3 feet for birdie and Roberts two-putted.

Quigley knocked in an 8-foot putt for an eagle on the par-5 16th in regulation, but bogeyed the next hole and missed a 17-foot birdie on 18 -- opening the door for Roberts.

Quigley shot a 4-under 68 to finish 72 holes at 15-under 273.

Roberts made birdie putts on the final two holes to finish a 67 and force the playoff.

Gil Morgan missed a birdie putt on the final hole that would have put him in the playoff. He finished at 14 under. Mark James had a 68 and was another stroke back.

Roberts finished tied for second at the U.S. Senior Open and was fifth in the Senior British Open, the only other events he has played on the tour.

Quigley, who joined the Champions Tour in 1997, played in 278 straight events until a hip injury forced him to miss the Senior British Open. He has won 10 events on the Champions Tour -- but never a major.

``It's just not my turn yet, I think I've got a lot more years ahead of me,'' Quigley said.

Doug Tewell and Morgan, who won this event in 1997 and 1998, shared the third-round lead at 13 under, but Tewell closed with a 73.

In the final round last year, Craig Stadler closed with four straight birdies for a one-shot victory. He finished 3 under this year.

The Tradition was played for 14 years in Arizona before Oregon native Peter Jacobsen lobbied to relocate it in 2003. Jacobsen's sports management firm runs the tournament sponsored by Oregon window and door maker Jeld-Wen.

Jacobsen had a 71 to finish 1 over for the tournament. He was troubled all week by a knee he twisted at the tour's Seattle stop the week before.

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