Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo made it into another playoff on the PGA Tour Champions circuit on Sunday.
Which is to say, he won the tournament.
The 53-year-old golfer from Mexico has been in three PGA Tour Champions playoffs in his career, and so far he’s 3-0 in sudden death.
On Sunday in the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla., Toledo rallied in a big way in the final round, then prevailed over Billy Andrade on the third playoff hole — the same as in each of his prior sudden-death wins. Toledo drained a 3-foot par putt on the par-4 17th hole after Andrade lipped out his 4-foot par attempt on the third playoff hole.
“Being in a playoff isn’t easy,” Toledo said. “There’s a lot of stress and a lot of nerves. Sometimes I surprise myself how well I play in tough conditions.”
Andrade could have won in regulation, but also missed a 5-foot putt on No. 18 — that one for birdie. Meanwhile, on the first extra hole, Andrade prolonged the playoff despite having to pitch out his third shot from the bushes.
The victory was Toledo’s fourth on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, with two of those coming in the last 4 1/2 months.
Toledo went into the final round four strokes out of the lead, but he followed up rounds of 68-70 with a 5-under-par 67 on Sunday, giving him an 11-under 205 total.
“Winning four times is amazing,” Toledo said. “It’s just fantastic. It’s a thrill being on this tour. I guess they have to put up with me a little longer.”
The victory was worth $262,500 for Toledo, leaving him at $280,000 for the year, good for second on the 2016 money list.
