GOLF ROUNDUP : No. 17 Remains Lucky Hole for Charles

Bob Charles, capitalizing for the second time in three years when misfortune struck his playing partner on the 17th hole, beat Lee Trevino and George Archer by four strokes on Sunday to win the $450,000 Suncoast Classic senior tournament at Tampa, Fla.

Charles won the 1989 tournament after leader Dave Hill triple-bogeyed the the par-five, 549-yard 17th. He won on Sunday when Trevino did the same.

Charles shot a two-under-par 70 to complete the 54-hole Senior PGA Tour event at six under 210.

It was the 16th victory in six seasons on the 50-and-over tour for Charles, who pocketed $67,500.

Trevino, who started the round one shot behind Charles, finished with a 73 and tied George Archer, who shot 70, at 214.

“That 17th hole has been good to me,” Charles said.

Trevino got a share of the lead when Charles bogeyed from six feet at No. 16.

“I was a little apprehensive with Trevino breathing down my neck,” said Charles, a 54-year-old left-handed New Zealander who was the tour’s top money winner in 1988 and 1989. “I just tried to hit enough good shots and make enough putts to stay ahead of him.”

Trevino drove poorly on the 17th hole and took a penalty stroke to drop from a hazard. He hit his fourth shot into the lake to the left of the green, the same place Hill lost the tournament two years ago.

Beth Daniel, the 1990 LPGA player of the year with seven victories, turned back challenges from Nancy Lopez and Laura Baugh with three birdies on the final eight holes to win the $500,000 Phar-Mor Classic at Lauderhill, Fla.

Daniel had a closing round 69 at Inverrary Country Club for a seven-under-par 209 and a two-shot victory over Lopez, runner-up at this event for the second year in a row.

Lopez pulled even with Daniel with a birdie at the eighth hole, then made three bogeys and two birdies on the next five holes. She finished with a 69 and a 211 total. Baugh closed with a final-round 69 to take third place, her best finish since 1986.