Aug 17, 2008 - 9:09 PM
0 shoutsSUNRIVER, Oregon (Ticker) -- Fred Funk closed with a 3-under-par 69 to win the JELD-WEN Tradition on Sunday for his first Champions Tour major.
At 19-under 269, Funk finished three strokes clear of Mike Goodes.
"Feels really good to obviously come in and pull it all off," Funk said. "It feels really good. I played extremely good today overall."
Goodes signed for a 68 to get to 16-under 272. Tom Watson and Jay Haas tied for third at 14-under.
A 65 on Saturday gave Funk a one-stroke lead over Haas entering the fourth round. Funk came out firing Sunday, birdying three of four holes starting at No. 3. He added three birdies on the back nine and built up a lead big enough to withstand a double-bogey at the par-5 16th and a bogey at 17.
"I was cruising and really pleased, everything was as relaxed as can be, and then got to 16 and got super conservative with a 3-iron and hit the worst shot of the week," Funk said. "I made three birdies on front and three birdies on the back. So I was in cruise mode, and then obviously I gave them back when I went double-bogey, bogey. "
Funk was in uncharted territory at Sunriver, leading a major championship heading into the final round for the first time in his professional career. Two weeks ago, Funk was the 36-hole leader at the U.S. Senior Open and eventually finished second, four strokes back of Eduardo Romero.
This time Funk made sure he did not settle for second with his early birdie binge and he collected $390,000 for the win, his second of the season.
