Douglass and Coody team for Legends title
Dale Douglass was surprised he sunk his 25-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on
Sunday.
Hugh Baiocchi was just as surprised when his 10-footer that would have
forced the playoff to a third hole didn't drop.
"Making that 25-foot, twisting putt was one of those that you don't
necessarily expect to make," said Douglass whose putt gave him and playing
partner Charles Coody the first-place finish in the best-ball seniors event.
"I really thought I had made my putt," said Baiocchi who along with
partner David Graham forced the playoff when Baiocchi sank a 30-foot birdie
putt on the final hole of regulation.
"The ball literally went into the hole and came right back out starring at
me. It was as much of a shock missing that 10-footer as it was to making the
long putt at 18."
The win enabled Coody and Douglass to become the first golfers to capture
both the Legendary Division (ages 60-69) and the overall Legends title since
the tournament went to three divisions in 1987.
Coody and Douglass each received first place checks of $150,000 for their
efforts, after splitting a check for $40,000 yesterday when they finished atop
the 36-hole Legendary division.
"We entered this tournament with the idea of winning both events,"
Douglass said. "I don't know if winning Saturday's Legendary portion gave us
any extra incentive, but it certainly didn't hurt."
Dave Stockton and Larry Nelson lost out on joining the playoff when both
narrowly missed birdie putts on the 18th hole to finish in third place at 193,
a shot back. George Archer and partner Simon Hobday finished fourth at 195.
After both teams posted par on the first playoff hole, Douglass hit his
second shot to within 25-feet on the 10th hole,.
His putt proved to be the winner when Baiocchi's effort from 15 feet did a
360-degree turn on the cup before coming to a rest next to the cup.
Baiocchi had forced the playoff when he sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the
18th hole to move to 24-under par.
The two-hole playoff climaxed a final nine holes that saw four different
groups atop or tied for the lead.
Charles Sifford and Joe Jimenez held on to win the Demaraet Division (ages
70 and older) with a 27-hole total of 6-under, 102, one shot better than Al
Balding and Lionel Hebert.
The winning duo posted a 2-under 34 on the final nine holes on Sunday to go
with their 68 on Saturday. The competition for the Demaret class was shortened
to nine holes due to the unseasonably cool weather in the area.