Steve Stricker won The Ally Challenge on Sunday at Warwick Hills for his second PGA Tour Champions triumph of the season and ninth overall.
The 55-year-old Stricker shut with a 5-under 67 – – bouncing back from an intruder on the 12th with four straight birdies – – for a one-stroke triumph over Brett Quigley.
“I didn’t play that well early on and I told [wife/caddie] Nicki, I’m like, `We’ve just got to be patient and just keep plugging along,'” Stricker said. “It was a little bit different day, it was windy, it was a little bit harder, I thought.
“Then I had that stretch of four holes where I made four in a row and that was the difference. I just kept plugging.”
Stricker won after fellow Madison, Wisconsin, player Jerry Kelly assisted him with his putting.
“It’s about time he helps me,” Stricker said. “You know, I help him all the time. No, seriously, him and Nicki got me on the putting green after the first round. I didn’t putt very good the first round and they noticed a couple things. Jerry got right in there, he helped me. He knows my putting stroke as much as I know his, so we help each other and he came through for me this time. I owe him this one because all of a sudden it clicked and I was off and running.”
Stricker likewise won the significant Regions Tradition in May in Alabama.
Quigley got done with a 68.
Jeff Maggert was third at 13 under after a 65.
Second-round leader Scott Dunlap (71) and Padraig Harrington (66) tied for fourth at 12 under. Harrington won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open last week in upstate New York.