PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jeff Coston of Blaine, Wash., captured the Leo F. Fraser trophy with scores of 71-65-65-70 for a record total of 17-under-par 271 at the 18th Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship on Sunday.
The final round on the PGA Golf Club's Ryder Course produced much excitement and drama, with the 72-holes ending in a three-way tie for first place among Coston, Chris Starkjohann of Encinitas, Calif., and John Mazza of Beaver Falls, Pa.
Jim White of Lincoln, Neb., previously held the lowest 72-hole score by a winner, which he set in 2004.
Mazza, who started the day three strokes behind third-round leader Coston, made a move early in the day by carding three consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 3, 4, and 5, to make the turn at 3-under 33. He then proceeded to record two additional birdies on the back nine, which positioned him for the sudden-death playoff.
On the first playoff hole, Mazza recorded a bogey, while Coston and Starkjohann carded pars. On the second playoff hole, both players remaining had birdie opportunities. Coston's strong putting ability was proven as he sank a 25-foot putt for birdie for the win and a first-place check of $20,000.
"Coming down the stretch, anything can happen, so I was focused on being committed to my targets and focusing only on my game," said Coston, a PGA Teaching Professional at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club in Blaine, who returned to the Championship healthy and determined to improve on his tie for 53rd place last year. "My 9-iron hit in a good location on the green, which allowed me to sink the downhill putt for my first win in this national Championship."
Starkjohann, a PGA member for 23 years, was the only player in the field of 264 who shot every round in the 60s, but it was not enough. His 3-under 69 on Sunday consisted of three birdies and just one bogey, only his fourth of the Championship.
"I hit a wall on the back nine and missed two great opportunities on Nos. 10 and 11. I hit a sand wedge into each green, but failed to hit them close enough to make the putts," said Starkjohann, who has had a successful year, including a fifth place finish at the PGA Professional National Championship this past June.
"On No. 13, I hit a weak 7-iron and chipped to 5 feet," he explained. "Then I didn't get into my routine for the short putt and it lipped out on the right side, which was the turning point of my round and cost me the Championship."
Mazza, a PGA Teaching Professional at Fox Run Golf Course, claimed third place, while Kim Thompson of Salt Lake City, Utah, who finished in a tie for 35th place last year, shot a Championship total of 12-under 276 for fourth place.
John Godwin of Pine Mountain, Ga., won a playoff for the 35th spot to earn a berth in the 2007 Senior PGA Championship, May 22-27, at Kiawah Island (S.C.) Golf Resort.
The Wanamaker Course played to a Championship average of 74.81 for the first two rounds, while the Ryder Course played to an average of 72.41 for the entire four rounds.
For the fifth consecutive year, Callaway Golf was the title sponsor and was joined by Buick, who served as the supporting sponsor.
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