Emotional Champ hangs on, captures Safeway Open title
Triplett wins playoff for 3rd Pebble Beach senior crown
NAPA, California, Sept 30, (AP): Cameron Champ broke down in tears when it was over.
Playing while his grandfather fights cancer in nearby Sacramento, the 24-year-old Champ won the Safeway Open for his second PGA Tour title. He made a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a one-stroke victory over Adam Hadwin at Silverado Resort.
Champ raised both arms then shared a long embrace with his caddie before breaking into tears as he hugged his father, Jeff, on the green. Champ’s grandfather, Mack, is battling stomach cancer and is in hospice. Mack introduced Champ to golf at a young age.
“For me to do something like this, for me to win, and for him to be able to witness and watch on TV, I know he was probably amped up,” Champ said. “For him to be able to see me make that putt on 18 on the 72nd hole, that will go down as the greatest moment ever in my career.
Champ’s second victory in 33 events didn’t come without its moments, especially down the stretch.
Three strokes ahead entering the round, Champ had five birdies and overcame a bogey on No. 17 – “Adrenaline,” Champ said – to hold off Hadwin. Champ closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 17-under 271.
Afterward, Champ was handed a cell phone by his father. On the other end was Mack.
Hadwin birdied the final three holes for a 67 to tie Champ at 16 under, then watched from nearby as Champ nearly chipped in for eagle on 18 before making the short birdie putt.
Champ missed every fairway on the front nine but made several big second shots to stay in front. None was more impressive than after he drove into the far left rough on the par-5 fifth, pitched up and over a tall tree and onto the green 17 feet away and two-putted for birdie.
Champ bogeyed No. 8, but rebounded with a birdie on No. 9. He had a short chip-in for par on No. 11 after chunking his approach shot.
Champ’s only other tour victory came last October in Mississippi at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He hadn’t finished higher than sixth since, missing the cut 12 times.
Marc Leishman (65) was third at 14 under. Justin Thomas (69), Charles Howell III (68) and Zac Blair (68) were 13 under.
Meanwhile, Kirk Triplett won the Pure Insurance Championship for the third time at Pebble Beach, beating Billy Andrade with an 8-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.
The 57-year-old Triplett also won the PGA Tour Champions event in 2012 and 2013. He has eight senior victories, also winning a playoff in March in the Hoag Classic down the coast in Newport Beach.
Playing four groups ahead of Andrade, Triplett birdied the 18th in regulation for a 5-under 67 and 9-uner 206 total. Andrade also closed with a birdie, holing a 7-footer after hitting his second shot through the green.
The 55-year-old Andrade missed a 20-foot birdie try before Triplett holed the winning putt in the event that pairs tour players with juniors from The First Tee programs around the country.
Paul Broadhurst was a stroke out the playoff, shooting a 68. Tom Gillis (69) was 7 under, and Tom Lehman (69), Tom Byrum (69), Billy Mayfair (69) and Marco Dawson (71) were 6 under.
Second-round leader Steve Flesch had a 75 to tie for ninth at 5 under.