Tom Lehman was crowned champion of the 2018 Principal Charity Classic after the final round was cancelled due to thunderstorms in the Iowa region.
“So I’ve been charting the weather all day long and just looked to me like things weren’t getting any better, so I figure once that phone call came, it probably was just a matter of a few minutes when they called back, which is what happened,” said Lehman, describing the delay process.
Lehman reached 13-under par after opening rounds of 66 and 65. His 131 total was two shots clear of Scott Parel, Bernhard Langer, Glen Day, and Woody Austin, who finished T2 at 11-under par 133. Jerry Kelly and Corey Pavin were one further back at 10 under.
For his 11th career win, Lehman earned $262,500, and moved to No. 10 in the Charles Schwab Cup race. Langer, with his fourth runner up position this season, moved back into the No. 1 slot after earning $117,250.
FINAL TOP 10
1 Tom Lehman -13 (66-65)
2 Scott Parel -11 (67-66)
2 Glen Day -11 (65-68)
2 Bernhard Langer -11 (64-69)
2 Woody Austin -11 (65-68)
6 Corey Pavin -10 (67-67)
6 Jerry Kelly -10 (66-68)
8 Clark Dennis -9 (69-66)
9 Kent Jones -8 (70-66)
9 Russ Cochran -8 (71-65)
9 Mike Small -8 (69-67)
9 John Riegge -8 (69-67)
9 Carlos Franco -8 (68-68)
STAT LEADERS
DRIVING
1. Kenny Perry 307.8 (T54)
2. Doug Garwood 306 (T35)
3. Ken Tanigawa 303.5 (T18)
39. Tom Lehman 285.5 (1)
FAIRWAYS
1. Blaine McCallister 85.7% (T27)
2. Clark Dennis 78.6% (8)
3. Tommy Armour III 78.6% (T18)
3. Todd Hamilton 78.6% (T27)
3. Jay Haas 78.6% (T27)
3. Olin Browne 78.6% (T65)
26. Tom Lehman 67.9% (1)
GREENS
1. Tom Lehman 91.7% (1)
2. Jeff Sluman 91.7% (T14)
3. Scott Parel 88.9% (T2)
THE TROPHY
QUOTABLE
“Well, it’s nice to be in the winner’s circle no matter what. Whether it’s rain shortened or not, it’s a confidence booster. Played a lot of really good golf this week. I think I missed three greens and the three greens I missed, I think two of them were on the fringe where I was putting.”
– Tom Lehman