CALGARY, Alberta — Rocco Mediate ran away with the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic on Sunday for his second victory in 17 starts in his first Champions Tour season.
The 50-year-old Mediate, the Allianz Championship winner in February in his first Champions Tour start, closed with a 7-under 64 at tree-lined Canyon Meadows for a seven-stroke victory.
“Calgary’s awesome,” Mediate said. The crowd is fantastic. Monster crowds this weekend and they obviously like us being here, so we’re obviously coming back for a while. I will no matter what. They showed their support big time for all of us.”
Mediate opened with a 63 and had a 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. The six-time PGA Tour winner finished at 22-under 191, playing the back nine in 18 under, to tie the tour record for lowest total score in a 54-hole event.
“I liked it when I saw it,” Mediate said about Canyon Meadows. “It’s just that you’ve got to drive real straight. I like that feeling, not that I drove straight all the time, but most of the time I did. You can’t do anything if you don’t drive straight.”
Tom Byrum had a 64 to finish second. Duffy Waldorf and Kirk Triplett tied for third at 14 under. Waldorf had a 65, and Triplett shot 67.
Fred Couples shot a 67 to tie for 10th at 12 under.
“It’s exciting golf, but it’s hard to believe,” Couples said about Mediate. “This is not a pitch and putt golf course. If you could just tone down Rocco, you’d have a hell of a tournament out there. There’s about 10 guys that could win. It’s a good tournament.”
Bill Glasson shot a course-record 62 to also finish at 12 under.
“I needed that round,” Glasson said. “I’ve been playing miserably, and I kind of had a good feeling, not 62 feeling, but I’ve been working on a couple changes.”
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