Cary, NC (My Sportsbook) - Tom Pernice, Jr. rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Sunday to win his Champions Tour debut at the SAS Championship.

Pernice finished with a three-under 69 and won the title at 13-under 203.

He became the 13th player in Champions Tour history to win his first tournament and the first since Mark Wiebe titled at this championship two years ago.

"It was a great experience and great week," said Pernice, who pocketed $315,000 for the victory. "I played well and I was fortunate enough that it went in."

Pernice was tied with David Frost, who made his Champions Tour debut last week, and Hall of Famer Nick Price at 12-under par when Pernice found the light rough at the closing hole at Prestonwood Country Club.

Pernice hit his approach 30 feet short of the flag stick. He needed to hole the birdie effort to win his debut and did just that as the ball rolled right in the heart of the cup for the win.

"I hit a great putt," acknowledged Pernice. "It was pretty straight all the way and it hung in and went in. Sorry to the guys waiting for a playoff. I'm extremely excited."

Less excited were Frost, who fired a five-under 67 on Sunday, and Price, who carded a four-under 68. The pair tied for second place at 12-under 204.

Dan Forsman shot a two-under 70 and took fourth at minus-11.

Pernice earned the second-round lead Saturday with a birdie at the final hole. On Sunday, he broke into red figures with a birdie at two, then added another at No. 6.

A terrible drive at the par-four ninth cost Pernice a penalty stroke and eventually a bogey. He holed a nice par save at the 10th, but traded the lead with Forsman.

"I hit a terrible shot on nine and not a very good one at 10," admitted Pernice.

He calmed down with five straight pars and Forsman fell down the leaderboard thanks to back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13.

Pernice's challenge came from Frost and Price.

Frost was two-under on his round until a late run. After a bogey at the 13th, Frost was nine-under for the championship, but he birdied 15, 16 and 17 to reach 12-under. He tied Pernice for the lead, but was unable to make birdie at the last.

Price was next in the clubhouse at minus-12. He netted only one birdie through his first 13 holes, but birdies at 14 and 16 got him into contention. Price reached the par-five 17th in two and two-putted from 25 feet for the birdie to tie for first.

Like Frost, Price couldn't birdie 18, so he warmed up for a possible playoff.

Pernice birdied the 15th to move one clear, but hit a poor drive at 17 and couldn't make birdie. Needing a birdie at the last to win, Pernice drained the long putt for a successful Champions Tour debut.

"I'm thrilled to death," said Pernice, whose two PGA Tour victories came at the 1999 Buick Open and the 2001 International. "It's been a while since I've won. It's a great feeling."

Andy Bean (68), Olin Browne (68), Denis Watson (71) and Russ Cochran (71) shared fifth at minus-10. Keith Fergus (65), Loren Roberts (66), Wiebe (69), D.A. Weibring (69) and Larry Mize (70) tied for ninth at nine-under-par 207.