GOLF: A week that began as a nightmare turned into a dream come true for Gene Sauers on Sunday night in Vancouver.
Sauers returned to the winner's circle at a PGA Tour event for the first time in 13 years, holding off a host of players at the Air Canada Championship.
A 40-year-old playing without a PGA Tour card, Sauers earned his third career title by shooting a two-under-par 69 at the Northview Golf and Country Club. His 72-hole total of 15-under 269 was just good enough for his first PGA Tour win since 1989.
Sauers wasn't even supposed to play in Vancouver but was added as the seventh and final alternate. He made the trip from a Buy.com Tour stop in Odessa, Texas, to western Canada, arriving on Wednesday morning without his luggage.
"Thank goodness my clothes showed up," he said. "I was getting ready to go to the mall."
Sauers can buy plenty at the mall after pocketing the $630,000 top prize - more than he has won in any season since he turned professional in 1984. He collected $135,000 for his victory at the 1989 Hawaiian Open and $81,000 after claiming the 1986 Bank of Boston Classic.
"This is a big jump," said Sauers, who has lost three play-offs during his career.
"I've been a professional golfer for 19 years," he added. "And I can now plan (my schedule), get cheaper airfares and better rooms. Other than that, I'm just glad to be here."
The victory gives Sauers a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
Although he thought he could compete with the best players in the world, he had been toiling on the Buy.com Tour after losing his PGA Tour card in 1995.
"It's a dream come true," said Sauers, who had collected just over $75,000 in a combined 14 events on the PGA and Buy.com tours this season.
Steve Lowery missed an eight-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole and ended up a stroke behind Sauers at 14-under 270, settling for his third runner-up finish in his last six starts. He has been in the top 10 five times in that span.
"I played great, and the seconds that I have had, it's not like I have given the tournaments away," said Lowery, whose string of runner-up finishes includes a memorable eagle barrage at The International.
Meanwhile, Emilee Klein earned the final automatic place in the US Solheim Cup team on Sunday, while Pat Hurst and Kelly Robbins were chosen as captain Patty Sheehan's two picks.
The 10 automatic qualifiers following the State Farm Classic - won by Patricia Meunier Leboeuc at Springfield on Sunday - were: Juli Inkster, Laura Diaz, Rosie Jones, Michele Redman, Cristie Kerr, Meg Mallon, Beth Daniel, Wendy Ward, Klein and Kelli Kuehne.
The seventh Solheim Cup match against Europe will be played at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota from September 20th-22nd.
