Pebble Beach, CA (My Sportsbook) - Jeff Sluman closed with a five-under 67 Sunday to cruise to a five-shot win at the Wal-Mart First Tee Open.
Sluman finished at 14-under-par 202, one shot off Craig Stadler's tournament record score. It was Sluman's second win of the season, making him the seventh player to collect two Champions Tour wins this season.
"I'm just happy to be playing the golf I had hoped to play coming out here," stated Sluman. "It's been a struggle, but I've worked hard. Golf is a game of ebbs and flows and things are going well right now."
The 50-year-old Sluman was one of four leaders entering the final round. He shared the lead with Phil Blackmar, Loren Roberts and John Harris.
Fuzzy Zoeller, one of five first-round co-leaders, closed with a three-under 69 to share second with Craig Stadler (71) at nine-under-par 207.
Blackmar stumbled to a one-over 73 and ended in a tie for fourth at eight- under-par 208. He was joined there by Chip Beck (68), Mark McNulty (69) and Fred Funk (71).
The first two days, play was spread over two courses - Del Monte and Pebble Beach. The final round was contested at Pebble Beach.
Sluman caught fire early to jump into the lead. He two-putted for birdie on the par-five second, then rolled in a three-footer at the fourth.
He came right back with a seven-foot birdie putt at five to move to 12-under. Sluman collected his fourth birdie of the day on No. 8 and that gave him a two-shot cushion over Funk and Blackmar.
Sluman ran off six straight pars from the ninth and his lead stretched to three as his competitors fell back. He ran home a 14-foot birdie effort at the 15th to get to 14-under.
With a four-shot lead and three holes to go, Sluman played smart golf. He got up and down for par on 16, before stumbling to a bogey on the 17th. Sluman closed the event in style with a seven-foot birdie putt at the last.
"Mr. Murray was following us and he was tying to get the crowd going, but I said let me get it on the green first. Some strange things can happen and the worst thing to do is celebrate before you had it locked up," said Sluman of the 18th hole, where comedian Bill Murray was trying to get him off his game.
Scott Simpson (68), David Eger (71) and Steve Thomas (72) ended in a tie for eighth at seven-under-par 209.
Roberts faltered to a four-over 76 to tumble into a share of 14th at minus- five, while Harris stumbled to a seven-over 79 to fall into a tie for 25th at minus-two.