NAPLES, Fla., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Craig Stadler rallied from a three-stroke deficit with five holes to play Sunday, then beat Gary Koch and Tom Watson in a playoff at the ACE Group Classic.
Stadler double-bogeyed the par-5 13th hole to fall three shots behind Koch but birdied the 15th and parred in to finish an even-par 72 and tie his playing partner and Watson at 10-under 206.
After Koch missed a 30-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the par-4 18th in the playoff, Stadler drained one from the same distance and claimed his fourth Champions Tour victory when Watson pulled a 10-footer.
Stadler has won five times overall since July -- a month after his 50th birthday -- including a regular PGA Tour event. He earned Champions Tour Rookie of the Year honors after winning two of the last four tournaments in 2003.
