RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Justin Leonard patiently prepared for a windy Sunday and watched as it paid big dividends with birdie-par-eagle finishing with a 4-under 68 and a one-shot victory over Ernie Els in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.
Leonard won the PGA Tour Champions for the second time this year and finished in the top 10 after the first match of the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.
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The top 54 players will advance to the second postseason tournament next week in Arkansas.
Els controlled the James River nine at Virginia Country Club and appeared to be leveled with birdies at the reachable par-4 15th and par-5 16th.
But he got scared on the 17th when Leonard made his move. After a birdie putt on the 16th, Leonard hit a hybrid 4-iron to about 20 feet and hit a downhill eagle putt into the post at 12-under 204.
Els missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the closing hole that would have clinched a playoff. He closed with a 72 and tied for second with Thomas Bjorn (68).
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Bernhard Langer, the 68-year-old German who has won the PGA Tour Champions every year since he turned 50, was two shots off the lead until a long three-stroke bogey ended his hopes. He shot 72 and finished three times in his bid for his first Championship Tournament win this year.
Scott Parel shot 71 to tie for 21st place, moving up three spots to 53rd and qualifying for next week's Simmons Bank Championship. David Bransdon is out.
Next week, the top 36 players will advance to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Associated Press
