Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Carlos Franco wins Shaw Charity Classic for first PGA Tour Champions victory

Sep 6, 2016 | 4:09 PM

CALGARY — Playing with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson helped motivate Paraguay’s Carlos Franco to win his first professional golf tournament since 2004.

Franco shot a final round 7-under 63 to win the Shaw Charity Classic on Sunday for his first career PGA Tour Champions victory. His last win on the PGA Tour was at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee in July of 2004.

“I’m so happy I finally won my first tournament on the Champions Tour especially here in Canada,” said Franco, who played in the final group with Langer and defending champion Jeff Maggert. “A long time ago, I don’t win a tournament. I lost my game (for) a couple years and it came back again this week.”

A day earlier, Franco played in a group with Watson, who he called his hero, and also shot 63 to move within three shots of the lead behind Maggert.

“I saw Bernhard Langer, I saw Watson, I saw the other guys. I say, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to play good,’” said Franco. 

“Winning on the Champions Tour is not easy because everybody is a winner here. Especially Bernhard Langer. This guy can play so well.”

Thanks to a stretch of three birdies in four holes on the front nine, Franco pulled into the lead on the par-70, 7,086-yard Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club layout.

Franco went on to roll in five more birdies, to go with his lone bogey, on the back nine. He finished the tournament at 18-under 192 to take home the winner’s share of US$352,500.

Langer shot 64 to finish in a tie for second place at 16 under with Michael Allen (63).

“I played really good golf today,” said Langer, who sits atop the Charles Schwab Cup standings. “I shot 6 under the last 10 holes and really gave it a go to win the tournament, but Carlos was just too good today. He drove the ball phenomenally and then his putting was just exceptional, so it was tough to catch him.”

Willie Wood shot 64 to finish in fourth spot, one ahead of Jesper Parnevik.

Maggert had two bogeys on the front nine before making his first birdie on the 11th hole. He went on to shoot a round of 4-over 74 to finish in a tie for sixth place at 10 under.

“I felt like I needed to shoot three or four under just to have a chance,” said Maggert. “Turns out it would have taken 5 under. That would have been a tough task today kind of the way my putting was, but hey Carlos played a fantastic round. He missed one little short putt on 16, but other than that the guy played great golf. He deserves it.”

Tied with Maggert in sixth were Scott Dunlap, Miguel Angel Martin, Colin Montgomerie, Duffy Waldorf and Jose Coceres.

Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, Ont., shot a 2-under round of 68 on Sunday to finish into a five-way tie for 14th spot at 8 under.

“I got off to a good start, everything was pretty solid on the front nine,” said Spittle, who has enjoyed playing in his home country for four straight years at the Shaw Charity Classic. “There’s a Canadian flag on my bag for a reason. I’m very proud to carry it everywhere we go. It’s just really cool when we get to come home here, there’s no doubt about it.”

Vancouver’s Stephen Ames carded a respectable round of 3-under 67 to finish in a tie for 53rd place at 1 under, while Victoria’s Jim Rutledge shot 68 to end up in a tie for 59th at even par.

Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press