Stadler Shoots 63 to Win

The Walrus still has some bite.

Craig Stadler shot a stunning nine-under-par 63 on Sunday to rally from eight shots behind and win the B.C. Open by one stroke over Alex Cejka and Steve Lowery at Endicott, N.Y.

It was the 13th victory on the PGA Tour for Stadler, who turned 50 in June, and his second victory in eight days. He won the Senior Players Championship last week.

“It’s like la-la land here the last two weeks,” said Stadler, who became the first Senior Tour player to win a PGA event. Ray Floyd also won on both tours in 1992, but he was 49 and still on the PGA Tour when he won Doral.

“As bad as I played on the West Coast in the spring, I’m playing that good now,” Stadler said. “And I have no idea what rhyme or reason there is to it. To go to eight tour events and miss five cuts -- I was pretty much hating everything about golf.”

He’s loving the game now. His comeback is the best on the PGA Tour this year and the best in B.C. Open history. Stadler finished at 21-under 267 and pocketed the winner’s check of $540,000, the largest of his 26-year career.

Stadler’s scintillating performance spoiled what had been a marvelous weekend for Lowery, who entered the day with a five-shot lead over Cejka and rookie John E. Morgan of England.

But after carding two 64s and a 68, Lowery had an even-par 72 to finish at 268. Rod Pampling had a closing 66 and was alone at 269 in fourth, his best finish in two full years on tour. Morgan finished in a six-way tie for fifth.

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Hee-Won Han left the 18th green at Wykagyl Country Club at New Rochelle, N.Y., in tears last year.

This time she was all smiles.

The 25-year-old native of South Korea became the LPGA Tour’s third first-time winner in the last four weeks when she won the Big Apple Classic, the tournament that dealt her such a tough loss a year ago.

“I am so happy,” Han said after matching par in a final-round 71 that gave her a two-shot victory over Meg Mallon. “It is a nice feeling.”

Last year, Han missed a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation that would have given her her first victory, then lost to Gloria Park on the first playoff hole.

This year, the 2001 tour rookie of the year made a four-foot birdie putt on the closing par-five to finish at 11-under 273.

Mallon, who has 14 career victories, started the final round tied for the lead with Han. Mallon couldn’t match the way she closed her round Saturday when she birdied the last four holes, although she came close.

She almost made a 60-foot eagle putt on No. 18, but the tap-in birdie gave her a two-over 73 and took any pressure off Han as she faced her final putt.

When it dropped, Han turned to the crowd with her fist held high and a huge smile on her face.

“I tried to put a little pressure on her and she handled it really well,” Mallon said.

Cindy Figg-Currier, who started the day in third place, five strokes behind the leaders, had a 72 and finished tied for third at five-under 279 with Grace Park, who had a 68.