RICHMOND, Va. — Justin Leonard stayed patient with his putting on a windy Sunday and watched it pay big dividends with a birdie-par-eagle finished for a 4-under 68 and a one-shot victory over Ernie Els in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.
Leonard won for the second time this year on the PGA Tour Champions and moved into top 10 after the first playoff event for the Charles Schwab Cup.
"To be able to make a putt when you know you have to make it to have a chance, it's a really cool feeling" Leonard told CBS 6 Sports Director Lane Casadonte after the win. "To be standing here with the trophy is really, really special."
The top 54 advance to the second postseason event next week in Arkansas.
Els was in control on the back nine of the James River course at the Country Club of Virginia and appeared to steady himself with birdies on reachable par-4 15th and the par-5 16th.
But he bogeyed the 17th as Leonard made his move. After a birdie on the 16th, Leonard hit a hybrid 4-iron to about 20 feet and holed the downhill eagle putt to post at 12-under 204.
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PHOTOS: Highlights from final Dominion Energy Charity Classic
"I hit a couple of putts that I'd like to have back" Leonard recalled. "But I hit a lot of putts that I told my caddie 'I'd take that putt ten more times'".
Els failed to make a 10-foot birdie putt on the closing hole that would have forced a playoff. He closed with a 72 and shared second place with Thomas Bjorn (68).
Bernhard Langer, the 68-year-old German who has won every year on the PGA Tour Champions since turning 50, was within two shots of the lead until a long three-putt bogey ended his hopes. He shot 72 and finished three back in his bid for a first Champions win this year.
Scott Parel shot 71 and tied for 21st, moving up three spots to No. 53 to advance to the Simmons Bank Championship next week. David Bransdon fell out.
The top 36 after next week reach the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Leonard's daughter Reese, who is a student at UVA, came down to walk the Sunday 18 with her dad. Leonard struggled to remember the last time one of his children saw him win in person.
"Gosh, I hadn't thought of that" Leonard said. "We're going back to 2007, 2008. They were little squirts. So she (Reese) got to see it in person. Pretty cool!"
CBS 6 provides Central Virginia with the most experienced local TV sports coverage in town. Count on Lane Casadonte and Sean Robertson for the most in-depth local sports coverage.
