Funk wins Tradition for second time in 3 years

By The Associated Press
August 22, 2010


Sunriver, OR — Fred Funk won the Jeld-Wen Tradition for the second time in three years, closing with a 3-under 69 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Michael Allen and Chien Soon Lu in the fourth of the Champions Tour’s five majors.

Funk took the lead for good with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 598-yard, par-5 16th, then two-putted from 40 feet for par at 18 to finish at 12-under 276 on the Sunriver Resort’s Crosswater Golf Club course.

Allen shot a 67, and Lu had a 69.

Eight players were tied or had the outright lead at some point on the back nine. When the final group had five holes left, 12 players were within two strokes.

Funk, who won the third Champions major of his career, began the round two strokes behind third-round leader Tom Lehman. Funk was in contention throughout the day, at one point making seven consecutive pars before his birdie at 16.

Funk’s 276 total is the highest winning score in the Tradition since 2002, when Jim Thorpe won at Desert Mountain at 11-under 277.

Lu had a chance to tie Funk at 18, narrowly missing a 40-foot chip shot for birdie. Allen reached 12 under after a birdie at 15, but gave a stroke back with a bogey at 16.

Lehman (73) and Mark Calcavecchia (66) tied for fourth at 10 under.

Bernard Langer, attempting to become the second player in Champions Tour history to win three consecutive majors, shot a 73 to tie for 10th at 8 under.

This is expected to be the last year Crosswater Club will host the Tradition. Jeld-Wen announced in August that it was ending its relationship as title sponsor, and the Champions Tour is expected to announce its plans for the tournament this week.

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