GOLF ROUNDUP : Stadler Hangs On for the Victory

Craig Stadler saved a one-stroke victory in the World Series of Golf at Akron, Ohio, on Sunday when his par-saving putt on the final hole hung for a moment on the lip of the cup and then dropped.

“I thought I’d missed it,” Stadler said. “I thought I’d pulled it.”

The 12-footer ended a comeback from a double bogey and made the 39-year-old Stadler the first double winner of the tournament since it went to an expanded, 72-hole format 17 years ago.

Stadler won with a closing round of 70, even par on the Firestone Country Club course, and a 273 total, seven under par. The victory renews his 10-year exemption from qualifying on the PGA Tour, which will take him to the senior tour.

“I maybe shouldn’t say this right now, but I’ll probably be cutting back a little,” Stadler said. “The last two, three years, getting older, getting worn out with the travel and the slow play, it just hasn’t been as much fun as it used to be.”

Stadler’s final putt was necessary to hold off the late charge of Corey Pavin, whose 65 left him at 274.

Fred Couples, winner of the Masters and two other titles this year, finished at 275 after a closing 68.

John Cook, runner-up in the British Open and PGA, was the only other player in the field of 45 tournament winners to finish under par. He had a 68 and was two under for the tournament at 278.

Dottie Mochrie two-putted for a par on the sixth playoff hole to defeat Judy Dickinson and win the $450,000 LPGA Challenge at Naperville, Ill.

Mochrie won the tournament two holes after Beth Daniel was eliminated.

It was Mochrie’s fourth victory this year, her second in a playoff, and the top prize of $67,500 increased her tour-leading earnings to $674,123.

Mochrie, Dickinson and Daniel finished regulation at par 216. They all parred the first playoff hole and bogeyed the second. They parred the third and Daniel dropped out with a bogey on the fourth.

After pars on the fifth, Mochrie and Dickinson reached the sixth hole in regulation and when Dickinson’s second putt lipped out, Mochrie made hers from four feet.

Orville Moody sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the eighth hole of a against Beb Betley to win the rain-plagued $400,000 Franklin Showdown Classic at Park City, Utah. Rain canceled the final round and, when conditions allowed, second-round co-leaders Moody and Betley began their playoff.

Justin Leonard beat Allen Doyle 2 and 1 to advance to the 36-hole championship match of the 92nd U.S. Amateur against Thomas Sherrer today at Dublin, Ohio.