By ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENDICOTT, New York — Bart Bryant made a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open for the second time in six years.
With playing partner Michael Bradley facing a 7-foot birdie putt that he would make, the 55-year-old Bryant rolled in the left-to-right breaking putt for a 7-under 65 and a one-stroke victory.
“It felt good. It really did,” Bryant said. “He hit a great shot in there. He went after the pin, which he had to do. ... I gave it a good run. But to make a putt like that to win a tournament, there’s a little bit of luck involved and it was just kind of my day. ... I’ve had putts made on me on 18 to lose before, so it’s nice to be on the other end of the stick this time.”
Bradley, the second-round leader, bogeyed the par-4 15th in a 68.
“It was fun. We had a good time,” Bradley said. “He shot 65-65 on the weekend, that’s tough to beat. But I put a little pressure on, I hit a good shot into 18. He made a hell of a putt.”
Also the 2013 winner at En-Joie Golf Club, Bryant made six birdies in a nine-hole stretch from the third to the 11th and had six straight pars before the winning birdie putt on the par-4 18th.
“I played awfully well, I didn’t hit a bad shot today,” Bryant said. “I played conservatively, a little bit conservative coming in, but smart. It got the job done. Very pleased with the way everything went.”
Bryant finished at 16-under 200. The three-time PGA Tour winner’s only senior victories have come at En-Joie, the site of the PGA Tour’s B.C. Open from 1972-2005.
The 52-year-old Bradley is winless on the 50-and-over tour after winning four times on the PGA Tour.
“I played solid, 65-68-68,” Bradley said. “I just got beat.”
Tom Gillis (67) and Marco Dawson (68) tied for third at 13 under, a stroke ahead of Paul Goydos (65), Kenny Perry (67) and Mark Calcavecchia (67).