Rocco Mediate won the Senior PGA Championship to deny Colin Montgomerie a third straight win in the event.
The Scot carded a closing four-under-par 67 to finish 16 under for the tournament, but it was not enough as Mediate's 66 and 19-under total earned him a first PGA Champions Tour win since 2013.
Mediate began the final round with a two-shot lead over Montgomerie and retained it as both men covered the front nine in 33 strokes, three under par.
The American made the first move with birdies at the third and fifth, and responded to a dropped shot at the seventh with back-to-back birdies into the turn while Montgomerie birdied five, six and nine.
Another for Montgomerie at the 10th cut the gap to one but he gave it back at 14. Both players birdied the next before Mediate struck the killer blow with a sixth birdie of his round at the par-three 17th, closing out victory with par at the last before lifting the Alfred S Bourne Trophy.
His total of 265 was the lowest in the tournament's history and Montgomerie was quick to pay tribute.
"All credit to Rocco but I can hold my head high and say I've made a great performance," he said in a press conference streamed live on the PGA's Facebook page.
"I was 16 under par and there's nothing wrong with a 67. I just have to congratule Rocco and then come back and try to win this again.
"I was beaten by the better man today and congratulations to Rocco Mediate. I'm glad I put up a brave defence, that's all one can do.
"It's been a great time playing here these last three years, I've been in the last group every time and it's a great tournament, I look forward to coming back here."
Source: PA
