Cromwell, July 28: Peter Jacobsen fired off a final round 3-under 67 to finish at minus-14 and win the Greater Hartford Open at the TPC at Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Peter Jacobsen recorded his first victory in eight years when he shot a three-under-par 67 to win the Greater Hartford Open on Sunday (July 27). The 49-year-old finished at 14-under 266 and won by two strokes over Chris Riley (68) while Todd Fischer was third at 11-under 269. Steve Pate (70), Craig Barlow (69) and 2003 three-time winner this season Kenny Perry (69) tied for fourth at 10-under 270. Jacobsen is the sixth player aged 40 or older to win on the PGA Tour this season and the second in two weeks. The 50-year-old Craig Stadler won last week's B.C. Open. Jacobsen went 183 starts between wins, his last being at the 1995 Buick Invitational. In 1984, he won the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open and picked up $72,000 for that victory, one-tenth of what he earned Sunday.


For Jacobsen, winning also marked a comeback of sorts. He had hip surgery in 2001 and after eight weeks off tour, he returned at Hartford.


Jacobsen opened the week with a seven-under 63 and never relinquished the lead. Sunday, he began with a one-stroke advantage and promptly birdied the par-four third and fourth holes. A bogey at the par-three fifth gave him an outward 34. Jacobsen birdied the par-five 13th to reach 13-under and open a two-stroke lead over Fischer and Perry.


Riley, who had hit two balls out of bounds earlier in the day, eagled the par-four 15th hole to reach 11-under and return to the fray.


Jacobsen managed to get up and down from left of the green and saved par. He then built a three-stroke cushion with a birdie at the par-four 17th hole. Riley birdied the 18th hole to pull within two shots and finish alone in second.


Bureau Report