LUTZ, Fla., Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Jerry Pate won the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am at Lutz, Fla., by one shot Sunday over a trio of players at 11-under-par 202.
Pate, who had not won since the 1982 Players Championship, carded a closing 5-under 66 and finished with a birdie putt on 18.
"There's a lot of pressure on you when you haven't won in 24 years," said Pate, 52, who earned $240,000. "You put pressure on yourself. It's really hard to describe."
He beat Hale Irwin (68) -- who captured this event in 2005 -- second-round co-leader Mark James (68) and Morris Hatalsky (64) at 10-under 203. Irwin needed a birdie at 18 to tie, but, unlike Pate's putt, his 50-footer failed to find the hole.
Loren Roberts -- who was bidding to win his fourth consecutive event to start the season -- shot a 2-under 69 Sunday and tied for fifth with Tom Kite, Leonard Thompson, Des Smyth and Bruce Fleisher at 6-under 207.
