It Takes Time, but Thompson Wins

Leonard Thompson followed Sunday’s best round with a three-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Isao Aoki and win the rain-shortened Coldwell Banker Burnet Classic at Coon Rapids, Minn.

Thompson’s first Senior PGA Tour victory was worth $225,000--his biggest payday in 27 years of professional golf. That nearly matched the earnings from his best year on the PGA Tour, 1989, when he won $261,397. He won the Buick Open that year--the third and final victory in his 26-year PGA Tour career.

“It feels great,” said Thompson, who joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1997. “To win any time is nice, but the first one is special. It’s ironic it came on the same weekend as the Buick Open.”

With Friday’s opening round erased by bad weather, the 36-hole format figured to make it wide open for the final round on the 6,909-yard Bunker Hills Golf Course.

Thompson had five birdies over his last 10 holes for a six-under-par 66 and a 36-hole total of 10-under 134. Aoki missed an eight-foot putt on the final hole and had a 68 for his second runner-up finish in as many weeks.

Hale Irwin, the first-round co-leader, saw two late bogeys cost him a chance at joining the playoff. His round of 70 left him in a tie with Dave Stockton, who had a 67, in third at 135.

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It didn’t take long for Billy Mayfair to know it was going to be his day. He birdied the first two holes then led the rest of the way for a two-stroke victory over Scott Verplank on the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Mayfair, who started the final round tied for the lead with Steve Stricker, pulled away from the field as he closed with a five-under-par 67 for a 17-under 271.

“Once I got through No. 10, I felt pretty good, even though I expected Steve to make a run at me,” said Mayfair, who beat Tiger Woods in a playoff at the Nissan Open in March. “I knew there were some birdie holes still out there.”

Verplank shot a 64 for 273. Andrew Magee also had a 64, but it left him one shot behind Verplank at 274. Stricker, with an even-par 72, tied Joey Sindelar, who shot a 64, at 276.

“Obviously, this was way past my expectations,” said Mayfair, whose last start ended in a tie for 52nd at the British Open.

It was the fifth PGA Tour win for Mayfair and made him the fourth multiple winner this season, joining David Duval, Fred Couples and Mark O’Meara.

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Meg Mallon was about to win the Star Bank LPGA Classic at Beavercreek, Colo., and didn’t even know it.

As Dottie Pepper was preparing to make a five-foot putt that would send the tournament into its second sudden-death hole, Mallon was seeking advice from her caddie.

“I’ve seen Dottie make so many of those that I went over to the side and asked my caddie what the next playoff hole was, fully expecting her to make that,” Mallon said. But Pepper missed the putt, giving Mallon the victory.

Mallon and Pepper finished at 199 for the tournament, breaking the record of 203 set last year by Colleen Walker.

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Leigh Anne Hardin of Martinsville, Ind., won the U.S. girls’ junior championship, beating Brittany Straza of Fort Myers, Fla., 2 up at Ardmore, Pa.

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Final Results

Top finishers on the major tours after Sunday’s final rounds (Complete scores, C11):

PGA BUICK OPEN--Par 72

at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Billy Mayfair ($324,000): 70-69-65-67--271 (-17)

Scott Verplank ($194,400): 71-67-71-64--273 (-15)

Andrew Magee ($122,400): 69-71-70-64--274 (-14)

LPGA STAR BANK CLASSIC-Par 72

at Beavercreek, Ohio

x-Meg Mallon ($90,000): 64-67-68--199 (-17)

Dottie Pepper ($55,855): 63-70-66--199 (-17)

Donna Andrews ($40,759): 67-65-68--200 (-16)

x--won playoff on first hole

BURNET SENIOR CLASSIC-Par 72

at Coon Rapids, Minn.

x-Leonard Thompson ($225,000): 68-66--134 (-10)

Isao Aoki ($132,000): 66-68--134 (-10)

Dave Stockton ($99,000): 68-67--135 (-9)

Hale Irwin ($99,000): 65-70--135 (-9)

x--won playoff on second hole