It Takes Time, but McCullough Gets His Victory

L.A. Times Archives

Feb. 26, 2001 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Mike McCullough won his first Senior PGA Tour title Sunday, closing with a four-under-par 68 for a one-stroke victory in the Mexico Senior Classic at Puebla.

McCullough, 55, won for the first time in 612 PGA Tour-sanctioned events--401 on the PGA Tour, 178 on the senior tour, and 33 on the Nike/Buy.com Tour.

“I made key putts when I had to,” he said. “I’ve been working hard on my game lately. I’ve been close a couple of times.”

McCullough, who earned $225,000, had a 12-under 204 total on the scenic Las Vista Course. Jim Colbert, coming off a second-round 62, shot a 69 to tie for second with Bob Eastwood.

“I’m proud of how I played, and happy for Mike McCullough,” said Eastwood, who also finished with a 69. “He gambled a lot and it paid off.”

Colbert, who won the last of his 19 Senior PGA Tour titles in 1998, also tied for second last year.

“I just missed too many short putts,” he said. “I had about a half-dozen that should have gone in. That was the difference.”

McCullough won with a four-foot par putt on No. 18 after hitting a 137-yard wedge shot from the rough to 12 feet.

“I wanted to make that putt coming back to put the pressure squarely back on Jim,” McCullough said. “It was good to make that putt.”

South African Hugh Baiocchi (64) and Bobby Walzel (68) tied for fourth at 206, and Jim Albus (66) and Spain’s Jose Maria Canizares (68) followed at 208.

Hubert Green, the 2000 winner, shot a 72 to tie for 51st at seven-over 223. Last year, he closed with a 62 for a 19-under 197 total.

Vijay Singh was barely challenged in the final round when he shot a three-under-par 68 to win the $850,000 Singapore Masters for his second consecutive title in Asia.

Singh finished at 21-under 263, two strokes ahead of Warren Bennett, who also closed with a 68. Last week, Singh won the Malaysian Open in a playoff with Padraig Harrington.

Colin Montgomerie was three strokes behind entering the final round but had bogeys on the first two holes. He finished three strokes behind Singh.