Wiebe wins in North Carolina for the second time

Mark Wiebe says he has no plans to purchase any real estate in North Carolina.

The 53-year-old Denver, Col., resident might want to reconsider.

Wiebe survived a Sunday shootout and then a test of endurance to collect his third Champions Tour victory, outlasting James Mason on the third playoff hole to capture the ninth Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn.

The victory, Wiebe’s second in the Tar Heel state, earned him a $262,500 winner’s check and 263 points in the Charles Schwab Cup race.

It also made his decision to play the Classic rather than return to his home state -- where he was being inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on Sunday night -- a wise one.

“I felt terrible not to go, honestly,” Wiebe said. “But I was committed here and I told them I just can’t go.

“That is a great honor to have… But I work for a living. This is what I do, too.”

The win was his first since the 2008 Cap Cana Champion, which followed his SAS Championship victory in Cary when he made his Tour debut in 2007.

“I don’t get it,” said Wiebe of his North Carolina success. “If I were to pick and somebody said ‘You’re gonna win. Where do you think it’s gonna be?’ I would pick the west coast. I grew up out there.

“I have to tell you, though, both the tournaments I’ve won here are great.

“I like the people, I feel comfortable and I just like being here.”

Wiebe’s victory came on the third playoff hole after he and Mason fired final-round 7-under par 65s to finish at 19-under 197, a Classic record.

With Wiebe a group in front and in the clubhouse after dropping a six-footer for birdie at No. 18 for his record-setting score, Mason trailed by a stroke before he laced a 3-wood to reach the green in two on the par-5 finishing hole.

With a 25-foot eagle putt to grab his first Tour victory since the 2002 NFL Classic, Mason’s try came up a foot short. He tapped in for birdie to match Wiebe and then began a back-and-forth tussle to claim the title.

The duo returned to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole and took nearly identical paths to the hole for a return to the 18th tee box. Nearly side-by-side from 10 feet away, both curled in birdie putts before having to endure a 65-minute weather delay.

“I was trying to reschedule a flight so I was on the phone with United (Airlines),” said Wiebe of how he passed the time while play was halted. “We were just kind of sitting around and we’ talked for a while about how we played today.”

Mason quickly looked to grab the advantage coming out of the delay.

Wiebe’s drive landed in a left-side fairway bunker while Mason drove in the right side of the fairway. Wiebe then hit out to within 140 yards, and Mason ended up within 100 yards.

Mason then gave his advantage away, putting his approach in a back-side bunker while Wiebe stroked an 8-iron to within eight feet. Mason hit to within eight feet and rolled in his par putt, setting the stage for Wiebe to end things with his birdie attempt.

His putt, though, skirted the left edge, forcing a third playoff hole at the par-3 17th.

Mason again appeared to be in control when his drive landed 25 feet below the hole. Wiebe’s drive fell on the left side of the green, and his 40-foot birdie attempt ran by the hole by six feet.

Mason’s try rolled five feet past and, after Wiebe drained his come-backer, Mason’s hope to extend the playoff faded when his par try slid by the left side.

“I feel for James,” said Wiebe, whose victory came in the event’s second playoff.  “I’m tickled to have won this tournament. I’m beside myself. I’m so happy.

“I’m sorry for James that’s the way it happened for him. He played great this week. He shot a 62 to qualify to get into this tournament, played great throughout the week, and sometimes you just think it was gonna be his week.”

On a weekend when both Classic and Champions Tour records fell by the wayside, Mason looked to etch his name in the history books. The 60-year-old’s lone win came as a qualifier and a victory this week would have made him the first qualifier to win two events.

“Well, the win would have meant everything. That would have been the culmination of my career,” said Mason, who was playing his first Tour event this year after failing to qualify in five previous tournaments. “That would have probably given me another year and a half out here.

“I still get a nice check, but the win would have been a total redoing my career again. Hopefully I’ll get (a win).”

Warm temperatures and soft greens produced prime scoring conditions, prompting the 80-man field to take aim at the pins.

The three-day tournament ended with 1, 147 birdies, establishing a Tour record and shattering the previous mark of 1,012 set at last year’s Allianz Championship.

Sixty-eight players finished under par, one off the Tour record set in Friday’s opening round and producing a final-round average of 68.64.

“I was a huge, old-fashioned shootout today wasn’t it?” said Wiebe. “There had to be 25 guys who could have won this tournament.

“I usually don’t come out on the good end of that. For me, usually when I play well it is a lower, not-as-many under par score.”

One player, though, not taking advantage was the first- and second-round leader. Bob Tway entered the day holding a two-shot advantage at 14-under, but a mundane 1-under 71 left him four shots back in a tie for eighth place.

The field was shortened by one when Wayne Levi disqualified himself after signing for an incorrect score on the par-3 ninth hole after Saturday’s play.

Kenny Perry and Fred Funk owned the low rounds of the day with 62s, and Funk’s run was his lowest score on the Champions Tour to give him the early clubhouse lead at 18-under. But he was realistic about his chances with much of the field behind him.

“I think I’m gonna come up a little short,” said Funk, who finished tied for third with Chip Beck. “I’ll take a playoff right now, but it was nice to finish that good.”