Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 20, 1995 TAG: 9509200037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: HOT SPRINGS LENGTH: Medium
That was how much closer Dave Stockton's tee shot was to the pin than Larry Laoretti's drive on the Cascades course's 18th hole, and the Senior PGA Tour money leader for 1995 took the Merrill Lynch Senior Shoot-Out Championship.
Stockton and Laoretti, the 1992 U.S. Senior Open champ, went to a closest-to-the-pin playoff hole after each birdied the par-5 17th hole. The 10 players began on No.1, then played 10 through 17 in the nine-hole format.
Stockton's victory was worth $130,000 of the $500,000 purse. He has 17 top-10 finishes on this year's Senior Tour, including two victories, giving him 11 for his career.
Stockton, a California native with $1.035 million in official money this season, birdied the last three holes of regulation. He also sank a 20-foot par-saving putt on No.13.
``That was the best putt I made all day,'' Stockton said. ``I thought [Tom] Weiskopf had the advantage, and then he three-putted, and look who went out. ... After being the runner-up in this event twice before, it's nice to win.''
The event was taped by ESPN for a Christmas afternoon cablecast, a situation that produced some bizarre sights at the revered course.
Before the first tee shots, the gallery of about 2,000 serenaded the future audience with ``We Wish You a Merry Christmas.'' Some specators also wore Santa Claus stocking hats.
Eight of the tour's top 16 money-winners competed. Laoretti won $80,000, with third-place finisher Jim Albus getting $55,000. Bruce Crampton was fourth.
The local favorite, Hot Springs native and resident J.C. Snead, placed fifth, followed, in order, by Weiskopf, Hale Irwin, Jim Colbert, George Archer and Graham Marsh.
The Shoot-Out format eliminated the highest scorer on each hole.
Keywords:
GOLF
by CNB