Monday, April 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
If the Las Vegas Senior Classic were a Greek tragedy, Bob Charles would be the lead character.
Charles, reknowned as one of the tour's best performers with the flat blade, three-putted from 30 feet on the TPC at Summerlin's 18th hole Sunday to fall into a three-way playoff with Jim Colbert and Dave Stockton, then missed from four feet on the first extra hole to finish tied for second.
It was the eighth top four finish in nine Las Vegas Senior Classic appearances for Charles, who also lost a playoff to Charles Coody in the 1989 tournament. But of all the near misses for the native New Zealander, this one may be the most disappointing.
"I had the tournament in my pocket, but the putter didn't come through when I needed it," Charles said. "I just gave the tournament away. It was simply poor putting."
Charles, who did capture the GrandMasters (players 60-over) portion of the tournament, entered the final round tied for the lead with Tommy Aaron. He either shared the lead or held it outright for all but one hole Sunday.
Charles had several chances down the stretch to salt away the victory.
His tee shot on the par-3 14th left him an 8-foot birdie try, which he pushed to the left. On 16, Charles stuck a wedge shot within six feet of the cup, but this time he pulled his putt right to settle for par.
His 3-iron on the par-3 17th left him 20 feet away, but Charles' attempt slid just wide -- a failed birdie which would have given Charles a crucial two-shot cushion heading to the fateful final hole.
"I only missed one green today (a bogey on No. 5)," he said. I really hit everything on the back nine, but I didn't make the putts that could have put it away. I really had good opportunities on those holes (14 and 16), but I just didn't make them."
Stockton said he and eventual winner Colbert were surprised to find themselves in a playoff, especially after Charles had placed his second shot safely on the green.
"Jim makes a beautiful putt and I left mine hanging on the lip," Stockton said. "We both thought we'd just tied for second. We never thought Bob wouldn't win."
Charles, who despite the collapse pocketed $81,000 -- plus an additional $18,000 in GrandMasters money -- for his efforts, said he couldn't single out a reason for his loss of putting touch.
"I never lost concentration, I just lost confidence," he said. "As the day progressed I got less and less confident in my putter and I paid the penalty. The old putter just treated me badly today."
The 34-year veteran will travel next week to Charlotte, N.C., to compete in the PaineWebber Invitational. He said he plans to spend plenty of quality time on the practice green in an effort to cure his ailing putting stroke.
"My nerves got the better of me," Charles said. "I really haven't putted well in a long time. I seem to have no idea where the ball is going off the club face. Judging the speed has gotten difficult.
"I really played better than I scored."
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