What began as a relatively wide-open race with a possible mad dash to the finish became a two-man pursuit that muted what could have been a drama-filled day on the South Course of Firestone Country Club.
Then, with one scene-stealing, dagger-like swing, Jerry Kelly stood alone.
Buoyed by a stunning hole-in-one on the 200-yard 12th hole, Kelly won the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship by two shots over Scott Parel.
Kelly survived more than a two-hour weather delay and shot a final-round 1-under 69 to win his first major with a 72-hole total of 3-under 277.
One by one the contenders – there were seven players within four shots of the lead at the day’s outset – shot themselves out of the picture until just Kelly and Parel were the last men standing.
Scores: Bridgestone Senior Players Championship
Parel, third on the Charles Schwab money list and the winner of the Chubb Classic earlier this season, shot a final-round 70 to finish at 279.
Kelly’s ace, which extended his lead from one to three shots, came one hole after his bogey enabled Parel to get to within one shot of the lead with seven holes to play. Then, Parel bogeyed the 13th hole to fall four shots behind. Even a birdie on the 17th was not enough.
Kelly, who held or shared the lead from Thursday’s opening round, was winless and had just one top-10 finish this season before prevailing Sunday to win the $450,000 check and a spot in the 2021 PGA Players Championship at Sawgrass. He last won more than one year ago in the American Family Insurance Championship on the senior circuit.
Colin Montgomerie and Miguel Angel Jimenez, one of the first-round leaders, tied for third at even-par 280.
Kelly, with six Champions Tour and three PGA Tour wins on his resume, began the day at 2-under and held a one-shot lead over Parel, Montgomerie and Woody Austin.
He quickly took charge with birdies on two of the first three holes to get to 4-under.
Parel did the same to remain on Kelly’s heels until a bogey on the 469-yard sixth hole dropped him to 2-under.
No one was able to mount a challenge.
Jimenez, who began the day three shots behind, suffered back-to-back bogeys. Montgomerie, with seven career Tour Champions wins, bogeyed two of his first six holes and Els, winner of the Hoag Classic in March, suffered three bogeys on the front.
Austin, who has five top-10 finishes in six events this season, fell back with a bogey on the 471-yard fourth, a double-bogey on the sixth and another bogey on the ninth.
Kelly got sloppy on the final hole and created a little drama with a double-bogey six but Parel was unable to take advantage and finished with a bogey.
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