Columnist Peter Benton: Stadler has top Champions honor locked up

Peter Benton

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.

Peter Benton's golf column appears Wednesday.

As the PGA Champions tour begins its stretch run to the end of the 2004 season, several players have distinguished themselves as Player of the Year candidates.

The seven who have positioned themselves to make a bid for the Jack Nicklaus Trophy are Craig Stadler, Peter Jacobsen, Hale Irwin, Bruce Fleisher, Tom Kite, Gil Morgan and Jim Thorpe.

However, it appears that Craig Stadler, the 2003 Rookie of the Year, must be the odds-on favorite to be the golfer selected. A couple of weeks ago he won his third consecutive tournament, becoming the first player since Gil Morgan accomplished this feat six years ago.

With his five victories so far this year, and tour-leading $2,179,666 in money earned ($548,569 ahead of runner-up, Hale Irwin), I think he's an absolute lock.

To add credence to Stadler's likelihood of winning the honor, he also leads the Charles Schwab Cup Standings with 3,133 points. (Designed to recognize the Champions tour's leading performer, the player with the most points at the end of the official season will earn a $1 million annuity from Charles Schwab.)

Jacobsen, who before last week's Constellation Energy Classic had but five appearances on the tour and one victory, is a consideration as he leads in earnings per start with an average of $146,082. (Stadler averages $112,333 after 17 tournaments.) The Jake could have a much better chance, however, at being selected as Rookie of the Year.

Among the other contenders, Irwin, a perennial winner on the Champions tour, has two victories this year and is second to Stadler on the Charles Schwab Cup Standings.

As for the remainder of those in the running to have a legitimate shot at Player of the Year honors, they will have to work miracles in the three remaining events to topple the Walrus.

Following Jacobsen, others who could be in contention for Rookie of the Year honors are Mark James, Jerry Pate and Mark McNulty.

For the first time, the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament will consist of six rounds and 108 holes, with the 90-player starting field reduced to the top 70 finishers and ties and those within 10 shots of the 15th position, after 72 holes. Fifteen playing cards will be available for the 2005 season.

The Oct. 31-Nov. 5 regional sites are: Marsh Creek Country Club, St. Augustine, Fla.; MetroWest Country Club, Orlando, Fla.; PGA Southern California Golf Club, Champions Course, Calimesa, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Magnolia Course, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and Falcon Head Golf Club, Austin, Texas.