Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 21 May 2018

Jimenez holds on to win Regions Tradition for first major

By JOHN ZENOR had par on the final hole
Associated Press while Sauers also birdied
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — to tie them. Durant had
Miguel Angel Jimenez final- produced two eagles on
ly got to light up a victory No. 18 already in the tour-
cigar after winning a senior nament but couldn't put
major championship. pressure on Jimenez with a
Jimenez won the Regions third.
Tradition on Sunday for his Stricker's assessment of his
first PGA Tour Champions own performance, includ-
major title, closing with a ing a bogey on No. 17, was
2-under 70 for a three-stroke that he "made quite a few
victory. He celebrated with mistakes."
a big embrace from fel- "Just didn't take care of my
low Spaniard and two-time ball, really," he said. "I put
Masters winner Jose Maria it in some bad spots, didn't
Olazabal, who hoisted him get it up and down when I
in the air. had to a few times, missed
After a round of photos and a few putts. Yeah, just
speeches from local digni- didn't have it really, didn't
taries, Jimenez finally got to play that good, but still had
break out the celebratory a chance coming down to
cigar. the end."
"It's time to have a medal in Jeff Maggert finished with a
my pocket and it's nice to 64 and was joined at 15 un-
be on the first major of the der by Scott McCarron (67)
year," he said. and Duffy Waldorf (66).
Jimenez held or shared the Jimenez made a birdie putt
lead after every round, tak- on No. 16 one hole after
ing a three-shot edge into falling into a tie with Stricker
the final round at Greystone with a bogey. Durant fal-
Golf & Country Club. The tered, too, with a bogey on
Spaniard finished at 19-un- No. 16.
der 269 for his fifth PGA Tour "When (Stricker) made bird-
Champions victory. ie and I make a bogey on
"It's been a wonderful the 15th, everything's go-
week," he said. "My game ing up again very tight,"
was amazing, really." Jimenez said. "It's time to
Steve Stricker, Joe Durant hole a putt on 16, for me
and Gene Sauers tied for that makes all the differ-
second. Miguel Angel Jimenez waits to tee off on the second hole during the final round of the Regions ence."
It was the third time Ji- Tradition PGA Champions Tour golf tournament, Sunday, May 20, 2018, in Birmingham, Ala. Stricker had two wins in his
menez had entered the Associated Press first four senior tour events
final round of a senior ma- this year and remains sec-
jor with at least a share of final three holes including a to a bogey, but he never shot sailed well right into ond on the money list. He
the lead but the first one he closing putt for good mea- lost his grip on the lead. the gallery. He had rebuilt a has finished in the top five
has pulled out. He tied for sure. Jimenez had three bogeys two-stroke lead with a nice in each of his events.
third at the 2016 Senior Brit- Jimenez entered the day after making just one over birdie putt on No. 16 while Bernhard Langer finished
ish Open and for second at at 17 under to tie Gil Mor- the first three rounds, but Durant and Stricker each five strokes off the lead in
the 2016 U.S. Senior Open. gan's 21-year-old Tradition easily held off his challeng- had a bogey among the his bid to become the first
Durant and Sauers finished record through 54 holes. He ers late. final three holes to leave to win the Tradition three
with matching 69s, and got off to a rough start with His approach on No. 18 Jimenez with a more com- straight years. He shot 66-
Stricker shot 70. an errant tee shot into a landed right in the center fortable cushion. 67 over the final two rounds
Jimenez birdied two of the tree-lined area on his way of the green after Stricker's Stricker and Durant both after a slow start.q