Esteban Toledo marked the Cinco de Mayo day celebrations by becoming the first Mexican winner in Champions Tour history, beating Mike Goodes with a par on the third hole of a playoff Sunday in the Insperity Championship.
The 50-year-old Toledo, making his ninth start on the 50-and-over tour, eagled the opening hole and finished with a 5-under 67 to match Goodes and Gene Sauers at 6-under 210 at The Woodlands Country Club. Goodes shot a 72, and Sauers - eliminated on the second playoff hole - had a 74.
Goodes shot a 72, and Sauers - eliminated on the second playoff hole with a double bogey- had a 74.
Cinco de Mayo marks the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when Mexican troops defeated a French army of Napoleon III, then considered the mightiest military in the world. It is celebrated as a day of cultural pride by many Mexican Americans.
Toledo, seven strokes behind Sauers entering the round, earned $270,000 for his second victory in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. He also won the Web.com Tour's 2005 Lake Erie Charity Classic.
The three players parred the first extra hole on the par-4 18th. Sauers dropped out on the second playoff hole - also on the 18th - after hitting his second shot into the water behind the green.
Toledo and Goodes went to the par-4 17th, and Toledo won with a tap-in par after Goodes missed a 5-footer.
Sauers had a triple bogey on the par-5 15th, the easiest hole in the tournament and one that he birdied in the first two rounds. He rebounded with a birdie on the par-3 16th to regain a share of the lead.
Toledo had a chance to pull ahead on the final hole, but his 20-foot birdie putt curved away at the last instant.
Mark Calcavecchia and Loren Roberts tied for fourth at 3 under. Calcavecchia shot 69, and Roberts had a 72.
Bernhard Langer kept the top spot in the Charles Schwab Cup points race. He closed with a 72 to tie for 25th at 5 over. Fred Funk, the 2012 winner, also finished 5 over after a 70.
