Jay Don Blake and Tom LehmanEric Risberg
SAN FRANCISCO - Jay Don Blake won the Charles Schwab Championship on Sunday for his second victory of the season following a 20-year drought, and Tom Lehman took the season points title and $1 million annuity.
Blake closed with an even-par 71 for a two-stroke victory in the Champions Tour's season finale. He finished at 8-under 276 at TPC Harding Park.
Mark Calcavecchia (69), Loren Roberts (70), Michael Allen (71) and Jay Haas (71) tied for second.
Lehman shot a 72 to tie for 18th at 2 over, enough to hold off Calcavecchia by 74 points. Calcavecchia needed to finish no worse than a tie for second with one other player to have a chance to overtake Lehman.
"It's kind of the story of my whole career, I've had a lot of seconds in my day and a lot of close calls," said Calcavecchia, who had 13 wins on the PGA Tour and 27 seconds. On the Champions Tour, he has one win and four seconds.
"It could have been a lot better but on the other hand I had a great year. Just rattled off more top-10s than anybody."
Rod Spittle of Niagara Falls, Ont., shot a final round 73 to finish in a tie for 20th. That left him 29th in the season ending points list.
Almost two months after surviving a five-hole playoff to win the Songdo Championship in South Korea for his first win since 1991, Blake calmly worked his way through the final round while a crowd of contenders took turns making brief runs at the lead.
Blake hit 12 of 14 fairways, made a pair of nice par saves out of the sand on the back nine then made the tournament-winning par on 18 after taking a bogey on the par-3 17th.
Nearly two dozen friends and family members rushed the green after Blake sank a short putt for par on the final hole. He earned $440,000 and finished fourth in the overall standings.
Blake, who had a four-shot lead with five holes to go and got some help from the contenders behind him.
Allen, second at this tournament in 2010, got to 7 under twice but couldn't capitalize. He birdied No. 16 but a bogey on 17 dropped him back.
David Frost, who shared the lead after two rounds, also got to 7 under before fading. Frost had a 72 and finished in sixth at 5 under.
With Blake cruising, the only drama surrounded the points title.
Lehman, a three-time winner this season, struggled most of the tournament and never had more than two birdies in a round. Playing several groups ahead of Calcavecchia, Lehman had to watch from near the 18th green until his title was secured.
Calcavecchia made Lehman sweat it out and hit a solid tee shot on 18 before pushing his approach far right. He two-putted for par, then watched his chances at passing Lehman end when Allen putted out for par, guaranteeing at least a three-way tie for second.
Two-time defending tournament champion John Cook (71) tied for 20th at 3 over.