SARASOTA, Fla. – Miles McConnell and Pete Williams survived a playoff to capture the victory over William Mallon and Bobby Bird at the Senior Four-Ball Championship on Wednesday at The Founders Golf Club. The duo finished the week at 12-under 132. This is the fourth Senior Four-Ball win for Williams and his fourth in six years, while McConnell captures his first.
The teams of Mallon/Bird and McConnell/Williams both began the championship with a round of 65 to share the lead at 7 under after the first round. Mallon and Bird finished the first round bogey free with seven birdies. After a 1-under front side for McConnell and Williams in the first round, the pair caught fire on the back nine with seven birdies.
McConnell and Williams got off to a strong start in the final round with three birdies on the front side to take the outright lead at 10 under. Mallon and Bird added key birdies on the 10th and 13th to pull back into a tie for the lead at 10 under. Both teams added birdies on the par-4 16th hole to head to the final hole of the championship tied at the top.
Both Mallon and Bird went for the green in two, with both players narrowly missing their eagle putts, and Mallon finishing with a birdie. Williams rolled his putt in for birdie on the 18th to force a playoff.
On the first playoff hole, McConnell hit his second shot just off the green. The reigning Senior Player of the Year hit his chip shot to three inches and tapped it in for birdie to secure the victory for him and Williams.
Mallon and Bird took home a runner-up finish, ending the championship with two rounds of 67. Rick Cloninger and Steve Riviere made a run at the title, firing a final-round 63 to finish in third place at 11-under 133. The duo moved 14 spots up the leaderboard, finishing the day bogey free with nine birdies.
Three teams finished the championship tied for fourth at 10-under 134.
