RICHMOND, Va. — Tim O’Neal made two birdies on the final three holes Sunday and closed with a 7-under 65 to win for the primary time on the PGA Tour Champions, a two-shot victory over Ricardo Gonzalez within the Dominion Power Charity Traditional.
O’Neal had a one-shot lead for a lot of the again 9 at The Nation Membership of Virginia till he delivered two of his finest pictures, a wedge into 6 toes on the par-5 sixteenth and a wedge that landed subsequent to the opening and spun again to five toes on the par-5 18th.
Gonzalez missed three birdie possibilities inside 10 toes down the stretch, forcing him to make eagle on the closing gap to get right into a playoff. He missed the green to the left, hit a hook into the bunker and needed to accept par and a 69.
For the 52-year-old O’Neal, this was a very long time coming. He was finest know for a pair of heartaches in Q-school as he tried to get onto the PGA Tour, essentially the most crushing in 2000 when he wanted bogey on the final gap and made a triple bogey.
He by no means earned a PGA Tour, profitable 3 times on the Latin America circuit and three extra on smaller European excursions.
“It solely takes one week, and this was my week,” O’Neal mentioned as he tried to carry again tears.
This was an excellent week for him to interrupt by way of. He was one among three gamers who moved into the highest 54 within the Charles Schwab Cup to advance to the second postseason occasion subsequent week in Arkansas. O’Neal went from No. 55 to No. 13, assuring he will probably be among the many prime 36 who play within the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
“For me to get it finished after I needed to, meaning loads,” O’Neal mentioned.
He’s among the many extra common gamers on the senior circuit, with gamers coming over to congratulate him whilst Gonzalez was arising the 18th gap.
O’Neal’s 65 was the low spherical of the week, and he completed at 13-under 203.
He was one shot forward on the sixteenth when Gonzalez, taking part in within the group behind him, hit wedge to three toes for a sure birdie. O’Neal hit it tight to guarantee he would keep one forward, after which he performed an ideal wedge into the 18th that each one however sealed it.
David Brandson shot 67 to complete third and transfer into the highest 54, whereas Paul Goydos birdied three of his final 4 holes for a 70 to tie for fifth and transfer up 11 spots to No. 48.
Chris DiMarco, Kirk Triplett and Angel Cabrera dropped out of the highest 54 within the Schwab Cup, ending their season.
