LEHI — Dave Stockton Jr. isn't a gloater, but even he couldn't resist grinning when asked if his Champions Challenge victory was even sweeter knowing his incredible approach on No. 18 sealed the win over golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
"It was kind of nice," said a smirking Stockton Jr.
He blasted a pitching wedge to within 6 inches on the first playoff hole of the two-man scramble at Thanksgiving Point, and after both Jack and Mike Nicklaus missed makable birdie putts, the Stockton father-and-son tandem proudly raised their $150,000 check.
"I've wanted to play with my dad for a long time," said Stockton Jr. "I haven't played in a father-son tournament with him since I was 12. Winning was really beside the point."
Being the champ, however, has its perks. That's why the the elder Stockton gave his son a big high-five after Jr. forced the playoff by draining a 15-footer at 18. In fact, on the previous hole Stockton Jr. stuck a 250-yard tee shot at the par-3 17th to within 3 feet.
Just seconds after the ensuing tap-in birdie evened the Stocktons with the Nicklauses, who were playing a hole ahead, Jack rolled in a birdie on 18 in front of an energetic gallery to finish at 12-under.
The lead would be short-lived, but not without some drama. Stockton missed his birdie attempt at 18, setting the stage for his son to be the hero.
"Dave played great on the back," said Stockton about his son.
More heroics would follow in the playoff, and even Jack Nicklaus gave Stockton Jr. a high-five after stepping on the green and seeing how close his shot really was.
Of the nine teams, only the Stocktons had a Senior PGA Tour-PGA Tour player combination. Mike Nicklaus, 26, the youngest of Jack's four sons, recently gave up his pursuit of a competitive golf career.
The fact the tournament even needed a playoff was amazing. The Nicklauses were the first group out, and after two eagles — Mike chipped in from the sand on No. 2 — and two birdies on the first five holes, they held a commanding early lead.
Johnny Miller, who was playing with Nicklaus, even said to the gallery following Jack's 18-foot eagle from the fringe on No. 5, "It looks bad when their 6-under after five, but we're not playing bad."
Miller and partner, John Miller Jr., were a respectable 4-under at the turn, but it was nothing compared to team Nicklaus, which posted 3s on the first eight holes and finished the front nine with a 28. Last year's tournament record of 60, set by Craig and Kevin Stadler, appeared on the way out.
There was no sign of letting up for the Nicklauses who birdied 10, 11 and 12 to get to 11-under.
"He was swinging as well as I've seen him swing in a long time," said Mike Nicklaus. "I just would've liked to see him make some putts."
It wasn't that Jack couldn't putt, it was that Mike went first each time, and he was making everything. Then the Nicklaus team ran into trouble. It only birdied one of the next five holes, which included a bogey at No. 16, a sin in a scramble format.
That lone mistake opened the door for the rest of the field, and the Stocktons capitalized. After making the turn at 5-under, and knowing they trailed by three strokes, the Stocktons went on a rampage to birdie the first five holes on the back.
"We just seemed to make the putts when we needed to," said Stockton.
Sergio and Victor Garcia, and Billy and Bobby Casper were playing well behind the lead groups, but it became clear after Nicklaus' birdie at 18 that the only group that could possibly catch him were the Stocktons.
Garcia played with the tandem of BYU golfers, Andy and Todd Miller, who were ineligible for prize money, but played because of an odd number of teams. Next to the throng following the legendary "Golden Bear," the Spanish "El Nino" played in front of the next largest gallery.
The Garcias finished tied for fourth at 8-under with Johnny Miller and his son and the Stadlers.
"It was the first time playing with my dad as a partner. It was special," said 20-year-old Garcia about playing in his first Champions Challenge. When asked if he'd return next year for the fourth annual event, he said: "If I can handle it in my schedule I'd love to come back. My dad told me he really enjoyed it."
The family event couldn't have come at a better time, just two days after Father's Day.
"This is an opportunity for my dad and I to compete with each other once a year," said Bob Casper. "It's our highlight."
Over 25,000 people attended the two-day event, and about 22,000 of those fans showed up for Tuesday's scramble.
E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com