Aug. 5, 2007
BLAINE, Minn. -
Former Illinois State men's golfer and current PGA professional D.A. Weibring added another tournament title to his resume Sunday, capturing first-place medalist honors in the 3M Championship at TPC Twin Cities. Weibring has now won six PGA events during his professional golf career.
Weibring birdied the last three holes to overtake current Champions Tour money leader Jay Haas. He shot a 5-under 67 for a three-day total of 18-under 198. Haas had a 9-under 63.
"It's great to be back in the winner's circle. It's been a long time since I've won," Weibring told the Associated Press. His last win was the 2005 Bruno's Memorial Classic.
Weibring used smart course management on the final hole, a 582-yard par 5. His drive landed on a downhill slope, so he played it safe by hitting left of the water guarding the green, pitched the ball to about 10 feet and made the putt.
"It didn't make sense for me to hit the 3-wood where the worst-case scenario if I lay up is I play a wedge shot and I'm going to get within 15 feet," Weibring said.
Entering the day with a one-shot lead, Weibring was 15 under through the 15th hole when Haas finished his round at 17 under.
Weibring, who finished sixth and eighth the last two years, then birdied the par-4 16th and put his tee shot at the par-3 17th about 3 feet from the hole.
Weibring's win was a timely one when considering his ties to ISU. On July 27, Illinois State University's Board of Trustees approved the naming of the University golf course to the Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in recognition of Weibring's commitment and contribution to Redbird Athletics and his achievements as a PGA member.
Weibring has won six PGA events during his professional golf career--the 1979 Quad Cities Classic, 1987 Western Open, 1991 Quad Cities Classic, 1995 Quad Cities Classic, the 1996 Greater Hartford Open and this week's 3M Championship. In addition to his PGA Tour wins, Weibring had overseas victories in the 1985 Golf Digest/Polaroid Club in Japan and the 1985 Shell-Air New Zealand Open. He turned 50 in May of 2003 and became a member of the PGA Champions Tour. Weibring won the 11th event, the SAS Championship in Raleigh, N.C. He was named the PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year in 1991.
