Bob Charles has this thing about the par-5s at Kaanapali's North Course. Which is the reason he's a winner there yet again.
A week ago in the Gold Rush Classic in California, Charles struggled on the long par-5s, playing them in 1-over-par. This past weekend in the Kaanapali Classic, he was 10-under on the relatively short par-5s.They were one of the keys in the left-hander successfully defending his title and winning his third Kaanapali Classic.
"This is one of the few courses I can reach the par-5s in two," said the 60-year-old New Zealander, whose closing 2-under 69 on Sunday gave him a one-stroke margin over Hale Irwin.
During the course of the 54-hole event, Charles, who finished at 15-under 199, had three eagles and four birdies on the par-5s. He also had an eagle on a par-4 on Saturday, holing a 9-iron shot from 140 yards.
The biggest eagle came on No. 15 Sunday, giving him the lead for good.
But, by his own admission, Charles had to attack the par-5s and persevere to win his 23rd Senior PGA Tour title.
"I started out very slow and felt like nothing was happening," said Charles, who earned $97,500. "I wasn't driving well and my putter was pretty dead until the 14th, when it started turning around. It was one of those days where you just hang in there; stay in contention, which I was able to do.
"I won it on the 14th, 15th and 17th."
On the 423-yard 14th, he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt to pull even with Irwin. Then, on the next hole, a 480-yard par-5, Charles hit a 3-iron within 17 feet and knocked in the eagle putt to take the lead for good.
He added a 60-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th and, with a safe two-stroke advantage, bogeyed the closing hole.
Irwin, who earned $57,200 to raise his 1996 total to $1,537,194 - $40,804 more than Jim Colbert with two events left - had the lead through 13 holes. He said Charles' putting and his own trio of three-putts "did me in."
"For me, it was disappointing," he said. "I had another opportunity to win and I let it get away. I'm more concerned about the `W' than dollars, and another one slipped by. The three-putt at the 10th really killed me."
Heading into the final round, it appeared to be a two-man race between Charles and Irwin, who were five strokes ahead of their nearest challengers.
But Steve Veriato, a Monday qualifier, threw a scare into the co-leaders when he inched to a stroke of the leaders on the front nine with an eagle and two birdies. He finished third at 200.
Don Bies was alone at 203 and former PGA commissioner Deane Beman closed with a 66 to finish fifth at 204.
Bud Allin, John Jacobs, Graham Marsh and Don January were at 205, with Dave Stockton and Charles Coody at 206, and Jim Albus, Bobby Stroble and Jerry McGee another stroke behind.
Colbert, who won the Gold Rush Classic for his fifth 1996 titles and fourth straight top-two finish, closed with a 66 to tie for 27th at 211. He opened with a 77 and shot a 68 on Saturday.
Ogden's Bob Betley had a 67 to finish at 209 and earn $8,619 while Heber City's Bruce Summerhays shot a 70 to finish at 212 and earn $4,193.