PARK CITY, Utah — Steve Veriato, consistent when others collapsed, shot his third straight 4-under-par 68 Sunday to win the Novell Utah Showdown and become the third first-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour in as many weeks.
The victory was worth $225,000 for Veriato, who finished at 12-under 204. His previous best finish in six years on the tour was third at the 1996 Kaanapali Classic. He also tied for third at the same event two years ago.
Second-round leader and Utah resident Bruce Summerhays, followed by a gallery of family and friends, faltered with a crippling double-bogey on the par-5 17th after hitting his tee shot out of bounds.
Bruce Lietzke, Graham Marsh, Jesse Patino and Tom Jenkins finished one stroke behind Veriato, while Summerhays and Walter Hall finished at 10-under.
Veriato had three birdies on the back nine, taking the lead when Summerhays and other leaders stumbled near the end. His last birdie, on the 17th, moved Veriato to 12-under just as Summerhays mishit on the tee.
On 18, Veriato's approach found the front bunker. But Veriato, who ranks second on the tour in sand saves, calmly pitched to 5 feet, then lined up the putt and rolled it in.
Bobby Wadkins won the Long Island Classic two weeks ago in his senior debut and Lietzke won last in Minnesota for his first over-50 victory. Veriato became the eighth first-time winner this year, three short of the tour record.
It was a heartbreaking result for Summerhays, who in eight tour seasons has been the leader or co-leader heading into the final round 10 times but never won. He had especially hoped to win at home in Utah.
With Summerhays slowed by two bogeys on the front nine, several others charged, with Lietzke, Howard Twitty, Marsh, Veriato and Patino moving into contention.
But Marsh, who reached 12-under with a birdie on No. 15 to share the lead, bogeyed the 18th. Jenkins closed with birdies on five of his last six holes but it wasn't enough.
Divots: Several big-name players skipped this year's Utah event, including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. ... Lee Trevino finished at 3-under for the tournament after rounds of 73-70-70. ... Defending champion Doug Tewell shot a final-round 73 and finished at 3-over. ... First-round leader Mike Smith, who was one stroke behind Summerhays after two rounds, shot a final-round 76. ... Patino eagled the 17th to reach 11-under.