Cochran captures second SAS Championship title

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

CARY, N.C.Russ Cochran led from start to finish and claimed his second SAS Championship title in front of a supportive crowd on Sunday at Prestonwood Country Club.

Cochran (66-66-67 – 199) finished his final round with four birdies on the final four holes and held off David Frost (67-67-66 – 200) to earn the victory.

Cochran entered Sunday with a two-stroke lead and proceeded to shoot 5-under-par to collect the $315,000 winner’s check and brought his total earnings for the year to $1,319,917.

“I hit a lot of greens here,” Cochran said afterwards.

“I kind of have figured out that there are certain little pins that you don’t want to go for and certain pins you do, and I get the ball in the greens and I think I putt just well enough. I had a good putting week this week but just well enough to kind of keep it heading in the right direction.  The other thing is too, you know, it occurred to me I don’t make that many bogeys out here.”

In total, Cochran had four bogeys through the tournament, two of which he carded on Sunday.

After opening the final round with a bogey, Cochran held off Frost and Kirk Triplett who had both entered the day tied for second and two shots off the lead.

Coming up to the 15th tee box, Frost had gone two-up on Cochran and pushed him to dig down deep and really earn the title win.

“We knew we needed to make birdies, especially after the bogey on 13,” Cochran continued.

“So it became a thing of, ‘hey, look, let’s hit it at the hole, just keep trying to hit it at the hole, and see what happens’. “

The tight leaderboard down the stretch provided a thrilling finish for the fans at Prestonwood as Cochran made his move.

“You know, had a lot of people come up and say, man, we’re pulling for you, hang in there, keep it going, that kind of stuff,” Cochran said.

“But people are friendly as you know here. It’s just the guys get a great feeling when they come here.”