First it was Lanny Wadkins holing a clutch 10-footer for birdie at the closing hole.
Then it was son Travis making the bomb of all bombs in the playoff to win the PNC Father-Son Challenge, scoring a major upset.
Lanny no longer plays much competitive golf and Travis works in the investment business but together they pulled off what seemed like a longshot Sunday afternoon at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Orlando.
Vijay and Qass Singh started the day with a two shot lead and got off to a good start but had a long dry run over the last 12 holes that cost them any shot at the title. Their putters simple did not cooperate.
In the meantime, the Wadkins duo was locked in a battle with Davis and Dru Love, Larry and Drew Nelson along with the Funks — Fred and son Taylor. All four birdied the par five 18th to post 20-under totals for the 36-hole scramble competition but it was Lanny Wadkins who faced the toughest putt on that final hole.
He stood over a 10-footer after son Travis had missed and he drained it dead-center. “First time in a while I stood over a putt that meant something,” Lanny said after the win. “I made it for him (Travis).”
Travis returned the favor in the playoff when he sized up a 50-footer and started it on a good line. “Halfway there I’m laughing because it couldn’t miss,” said Lanny, who started hugging his son before the ball fell in the hole.
Team Love had a chance to tie but Dru’s eagle try stopped two inches short, dead in the hole and father Davis’ try went just over the right lip.
It was the putting that won it for the Wadkins team. Lanny made a birdie from 60 feet at the fourth hole, Travis made one from off the green at the par three 12th then holed another from 30-feet at 13.
