Rod Pampling won the PGA Tour Champions SAS Championship at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, North Carolina, on Sunday after making birdies on three of his opening eight holes.
The 54-year-old Australian made sure her one-stroke lead in the final round held up by shooting a 5-under 67.
Steven Alker, a New Zealander, finished in 68, two strokes worse than Pampling, who posted a 54-hole total of 15-under 201. Pampling achieved his second victory on the senior circuit in his career with it.
Pampling had 33 holes to play on Sunday because of the inclement weather, but he was up to the task.
“It mightn’t look it,” he said, “but I try to keep myself in shape.”
Ernie Els, who tied for third with Mario Tiziani at 11 under, was one of the Hall of Famers Pampling was referring to. According to Pampling, who last triumphed at the 2020 Boeing Classic, success never gets old.
“It can be a four-ball down the street with your mates or whatever it is, winning is phenomenal,” said Pampling, who won three times on the PGA Tour. “It doesn’t have to be for a lot, it’s just the fact that you’ve won on that day. In this game it doesn’t happen a lot, so you cherish every one of them.”