Ernie Els could only manage a one-under-par 70 on Sunday as he finished in a share of sixth in the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Having shared the lead with Greg Chalmers going into the final round, Els was unable to hold off the irresistible charge of Richard Bland’s closing eight-under-par 63 which saw him romp to a three-stroke win at 17-under-par over Richard Green of Australia.
Chalmers, also of Australia, was third behind England’s Bland, while Scott Hend made it a great finish for Australians with his share of fourth with Jason Carron of the United States on 12-under. Els shared sixth with American Chris DiMarco.
South Africa’s Retief Goosen was in a share of ninth, two shots behind Els and one behind Steve Stricker, on nine-under-par after he closed with a four-under 67.
Keith Horne finished in a share of 57th after his closing one-over 72, with Adilson Da Silva of Brazil in a share of 67th after he finished with a three-over 74. James Kingston slumped to a closing 16-over 87 to finish in 82nd place.
In a final round delayed by about an hour because of storms, Bland hit what amounted to the winning shot on the par-five 15th, an approach to six feet for eagle. That took him from one shot behind Greg Chalmers to a one-shot lead when Chalmers could only manage a par.
The storms finally arrived, and the 51-year-old Bland returned to make three pars and claim his first victory since the 2021 Belfred British Masters, the DP World Tour title that unwittingly started Bland on this amazing ride.
“The British Masters was very special at 48. This is right up there. I couldn’t be happier,” Bland said. “I’m going to celebrate the hell out of this one.”
