Ian Baker-Finch knew he was onto something special. It just didn't last quite long enough.
Baker-Finch put together a streak of seven birdies in 10 holes that ended with a decisive, last-hole bogey that enabled Paul Azinger to score a one-stroke victory in the Tournament of Champions on Sunday.When Baker-Finch bogeyed the final hole after driving into a fairway bunker, Azinger needed only a routine, two-putt par to break a tie for the top and acquire the sixth title of his eight year Tour career.
Azinger won this one with a closing 69 and a 16-under-par 272 total on the La Costa Country Club course in the first event of the year. The victory was worth $135,000 from the total purse of $750,000.
Baker-Finch, a one-shot loser on the strength of that closing bogey, had a 68 and a 273 total.
In a separate but simultaneous competition for winners of 1989 Seniors Tour titles, George Archer scored a run-away seven-shot victory over Bobby Nichols and Bruce Crampton.
Archer, holding a seven-stroke lead when the day's play started, needed only a two-over-par 74 over the final 18 holes to maintain the margin.