Justin Leonard's Late Charge Secures Chubb Classic Triumph
On Sunday, Justin Leonard overcame a poor start with a back-nine surge on Tiburon's Black Course to win the Chubb Classic, his first PGA Tour Champions title.
Leonard defeated Billy Andrade by four strokes with a 4-under 68 after birdieing five of the final seven holes. The 52-year-old Texan triumphed in his 45th appearance on the 50-and-over circuit, marking his first triumph since the 2008 St. Jude Championship, the final of his 12 PGA circuit victories.
Leonard struggled for a crucial par on the eleventh hole, then birdied the following three after a bogey on the tenth put him at one over for the day. On the par-3 16th hole, he scrambled once again for par. On the par-4 17th hole, he made a 30-footer to catch the right edge for birdie. On the par-5 18th hole, he made a last birdie by getting up-and-down from a greenside bunker.
The final score for Leonard was 15-under 201. After a lengthy stint as a television analyst, he returned to competitive golf on Saturday, shooting 65 to grab a one-stroke lead and position himself for the historic triumph.
In addition to winning the 1992 U.S. Amateur and 1994 NCAA titles for Texas to finish off his amateur career, Leonard has excelled at every level. He also won the British Open at Royal Troon in 1997 and made the winning putt at Brookline in the Ryder Cup in 1999.
Andrade shot 68 as well. Darren Clarke shot 68 and finished third at 10 under.
Fred Couples tied for fourth place at 9 under with Paul Stankowski (71), Heath Slocum (70), and Richard Green (68).
Ernie Els had a 75 to finish 11th at 7 under, one stroke behind Leonard at the start of the day.
With a final score of 70, Bernhard Langer tied for 12th place at 6 under. He holds the record with five victories.
