Tom Pernice is one of those guys that just ages well. He is 54 years old and looks and acts like he is a 40-something.
He still had status on the regular PGA Tour well into his 50’s and finished T-8 in the 2012 Reno-Tahoe Open.
Pernice appeared in 588 events in 30 years of competing on the PGA Tour. He made 317 cuts, finished first twice and amassed nearly $15 million in career earnings.
This was his third Champions Tour win in four years on the senior circuit. In 72 starts on the Champions Tour, he has not missed a cut and has earned another $4 million.
His three rounds last week of 68-67-69 left him at 12-under-par and tied with Doug Garwood.
Pernice prevailed in the two-hole playoff on No. 18. Both players made their pars the first time around. The second time they strode up 18, Pernice made a birdie-three for the win and the $262,500 first-place check.
This was his third top-10 finish of the year in 10 starts and he has finished inside the top 25 seven times. He moves up 15 spots to No. 10 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Doug Garwood has conditional exempt status on the Champions Tour and this was only his fourth start of the year. It was also his best finish in a Champions Tour event.
He earned $249,000 last year on the Champions Tour and finished No. 57 on the money list.
He held the 36-hole lead after a second-round seven-under-par 65. He shot a one-under-par 71 on Sunday and will collect $154,000 for his runner-up finish this week.
Mark Calcaveccia, Jay Haas, Bill Glasson and Michael Allen all finished in a tie for third at 11-under-par.
Bernhard Langer remains the leader in the Charles Schwab Cup with Colin Montgomerie, Jay Haas, Fred Couples and Kenny Perry rounding out the top-five spots.
The Champions Tour next moves to Branson, Missouri for the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf. It will feature two-man teams comprised of the biggest names the game of golf has ever known.
It will also feature two rounds being played on the par-3 ‘Top of the Rock’ short course designed by Jack Nicklaus.