Bowling Green State University Athletics
Mike McCullough Wins First Senior PGA Tour Title
February 26, 2001 | Men's Golf
Feb. 25, 2001
PUEBLA, Mexico - Mike McCullough won his first SENIOR PGA TOUR title Sunday, closing with a 4-under-par 68 for a one-stroke victory in the Mexico Senior Classic.
McCullough, 55, a Bowling Green State University Hall-of-Famer, won for the first time in 612 PGA TOUR-sanctioned events -- 401 on the PGA TOUR, 178 on the SENIOR TOUR, and 33 on the BUY.COM TOUR.
"I made key putts when I had to," said McCullough, who moved into fifth place in the Charles Schwab Cup race. "I've been working hard on my game lately. I've been close a couple of times."
McCullough, who earned $225,000, had a 12-under 204 total on the scenic La Vista Course. Jim Colbert, coming off a second-round 62, shot a 69 to tie for second with Bob Eastwood.
"I'm proud of how I played, and happy for Mike McCullough," said Eastwood, who also finished with a 69. "He gambled a lot and it paid off."
Colbert, who won the last of his 19 SENIOR PGA TOUR titles in 1998, also tied for second last year.
"I just missed too many short putts," he said. "I had about a half dozen that should have gone in. That was the difference."
McCullough won with a 4-foot par putt on No. 18 after hitting a 137-yard wedge shot from the rough to 12 feet.
"I wanted to make that putt coming back to put the pressure squarely back on Jim," McCullough said. "It was good to make that putt."
South African Hugh Baiocchi (64) and Bobby Walzel (68) tied for fourth at 206, and Jim Albus (66) and Spain's Jos‚ Maria Cañizares (68) followed at 208.
Hubert Green, the 2000 winner, shot a 72 to tie for 51st at 7-over 223. Last year, he closed with a 62 for a 19-under 197 total.
TOP-FIVE AT MEXICO SENIOR CLASSIC
Pos. Player Score 1st Mike McCullough -12 2nd Jim Colbert -11 2nd Bob Eastwood -11 4th Hugh Baiocchi -10 4th Bobby Walzel -10
(Source: PGA TOUR site [www.pgatour.com])
