2015 SAS Championship: Maggert, Langer ready to continue battle for Charles Schwab Cup

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

CARY, N.C. – The 2015 SAS Championship which begins play at Prestonwood Country Club on Friday, features a tight and competitive race for points in the Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup standings.

As Day Two of play in the 2015 SAS Championship Pro-Am finished on Thursday, current Schwab Cup co-leader Jeff Maggert, and two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer provided their outlook for this weekend’s event.

Both players, in addition to Colin Montgomerie, highlight this year’s field and all three are contending for the Tour’s Cup title.

With his T3 finish at the recent Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, Montgomerie moved into a tie for first place with Maggert in the season-long race with 2,992 points.

It marks the first time in Tour history that there has been a tie atop the race.

With just four events remaining, it appears that the Cup title and $1 million annuity which goes to the winner will come down to Montgomerie, Maggert or Langer claiming it.

Langer trails the pair by 388 points heading into the SAS Championship where 315 points are on the line.

Maggert, a four-time winner this year, is one of 10 new players making their debut at Prestonwood, while Langer, the 2012 SAS Champion, as well as Mongtomerie, have gotten to know the course better in recent years.

“The golf course is very good, demanding,” Langer said.

“The practice facilities are great. There’s nothing, nothing negative whatsoever, so that’s what makes a good tournament.”

Maggert said he looked forward to the opportunity to compete for the tournament title, particularly when teeing off in the same group with Langer and Montgomerie at 12:10 p.m. on Friday.

“I always say it’s good to keep an eye on your competition,” Maggert said.

“If someone you’re competing against is on the opposite nine, opposite tee and you’re trying to play well, but it’s almost like a Sunday pairing almost, final-round pairing, so to speak, on a Friday. So I’m excited. My game will be elevated and I’m sure those guys want to play well, too. Should be a good pairing, good for television, good for the fans.”

As a two-time Charles Schwab Cup champion (2014, 2010), Langer knows he’ll have to continue to play exceptionally well to stay in contention.

“I’ve seen a lot of Colin and Jeff lately, so it’s sort of been the three dominant musketeers or whatever you call it this year,” Langer said.

“They’ve both had phenomenal years. When you look at their Schwab Cup points, I mean, there have been years in the past where if you take their total, it would have been enough to win, and here we go, we’ve still got four tournaments left. So it just shows how strong they’ve played this year. I’m third at the moment, and I’m trying to close the gap, get closer, and so I still have a chance when the Schwab Tournament comes around to win the Schwab Cup.”

Notes: The field is once again a strong one with 59 former PGA TOUR winners as well as 51 different winners on the Champions Tour, including16 players with at least one major championship win on their resume…In addition to Maggert, the others making their debuts at Prestonwood include Carlos Franco, Jesper Parnevik, Scott Verplank, Ian Woosnam, Scott McCarron, Joe Durant, P.H. Horgan, Jerry Smith and Nolan Henke.

2015 SAS Championship Pro-Am – Results

Day Two – Morning

First Place Team (48)

Professional: Mark Wiebe – Amateurs: Stu Bradley, Cathy Nanos, David Stewart, Ashley Narron

Second Place Team (49)

Professional: Brian Henninger – Amateurs: Bob Kampe, Jay Muelhoefer, Bernie Spang, Dwight Tausz

Third Place Team (51)

Professional: Jerry Smith – Amateurs: Colin Freemark

Proximity Awards

Men’s Long Drive Hole 7 – Grant Talbot; Closest to the Pin Hole 8 – Jeremy Jokinen; Ladies’ Longest Drive Hole 12 – Barb Brandon

2015 SAS Championship Pro-Am – Results

Day Two – Afternoon

First Place Team (51, won on 1st scorecard playoff hole)

Professional: Russ Cochran – Amateurs: Don Minnick, Steve Noga, Brian Kelly, Curtis Medeiros

Second Place Team (51, won on 2nd scorecard playoff hole)

Professional: Kirk Triplett – Amateurs: Athula Alwis, Jay Gould, Christopher Carnal, Brandon Annett

Third Place Team (51)

Professional: Michael Allen – Amateurs: Brad Martin, Elaine Beeman, Ernie Stevens, Jeffrey Owens

Proximity Awards

Men’s Long Drive Hole 7 – Nate Brill; Closest to the Pin Hole 8 – Steve Ostroff; Ladies’ Longest Drive Hole 12 – Elaine Beeman