Miyazato tames Safeway Classic field
The 54-year-old Funk won the Jeld-Wen Tradtion – the fourth of the five Champions Tour five – for the second time in three years, closing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Michael Allen and Chien Soon Lu.
"I really like this golf course, and I really like this area. Obviously, it's been good to me," said Funk, 47 under in four Tradition tournaments at Crosswater.
Funk, also the 2009 U.S. Senior Open winner, has six Champions Tour victories. He won eight times on the PGA Tour.
The former Maryland coach took the lead for good with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 598-yard, par-5 16th, then two-putted from 40 feet for par at 18 to finish at 12-under 276 on the Sunriver Resort's Crosswater Golf Club course.
Allen shot a 67, and Lu had a 69.
Eight players were tied or had the outright lead at some point on the back nine. When the final group had five holes left, 12 players were within two strokes.
Funk, who won the third Champions major of his career, began the round two strokes behind third-round leader Tom Lehman. Funk was in contention throughout the day, at one point making seven consecutive pars before his birdie at 16.
Funk's 276 total is the highest winning score in the Tradition since 2002, when Jim Thorpe won at Desert Mountain at 11-under 277.
Jeld-Wen is ending its relationship as title sponsor after four years, and the Champions Tour is expected to announce its plans for the tournament this week.
MIYAZATO DEFENDS SAFEWAY TITLE
Ai Miyazato shot an even-par 72 to earn a 2-shot victory in the Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course Sunday, a win that moved her to the top of the LPGA Tour rankings.
