Richard Bland wins Senior PGA Championship in his debut

 

ENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- First time participant wins the final KitchenAid Senior PGA hosted in Benton Harbor.

51-year-old Richard Bland made his debut in the Senior PGA Championship and after three days, it wasn't a sure thing he would win. Bland shot +3 in round three and things looked shaky.

On day four, Bland came out the gates blazing with birdies at holes one and two, before finishing with eight birdies for the day.

He kept his momentum going on the back 9 scoring an eagle at hole 15, just before play was suspended from 2:20 p.m. until 3:40 p.m.

After play resumed, Bland shot for par on holes 16-18, claiming the Alfred S. Bourne trophy in the 84th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

"Just trying to just take it all in right now. It's not really sunk in too much. I'm sure it will over the next two, three days. A lot of pride. A lot of satisfaction. Won for my brother as well," he said.

So, yeah, I didn't... you know, there are a lot of great players out here, so coming into this week I was hoping that I had a good enough game to compete, and I'm glad that I've shown that obviously to myself for my own confidence going forward," Bland said.