Saucier, MI – Michael Allen survived a bogey on the final hole Sunday to beat Bernhard Langer by one stroke at the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.
Allen carded a 5-under 67 to finish at 11-under-par 205. This was his fourth victory on the Champions Tour.
"It was nice to win, but a bad way to finish," Allen stated. "I enjoy working hard at it. I'm going to continue to do that. I love competing out here it's a great deal."
Langer bogeyed the 16th to fall one back. He parred the last two holes to end there. Langer shot 2-under 70 on Sunday to end alone in second at minus-10.
Russ Cochran matched Allen's 67 to end in a share of third at 8-under-par 208. He was joined there by Tom Pernice, Jr. (71) and Gene Sauers (71).
David Frost (69), Rocco Mediate (67), Mark O'Meara (70) and Peter Senior (72) tied for sixth at minus-6 at Fallen Oak Golf Club.
Roger Chapman was one of four second-round co-leaders alongside Langer, Corey Pavin and Joe Daley. Chapman stumbled to a 3-over 75 to drop into a share of 10th at 5-under-par 211. He ended alongside Steve Elkington (71).
Daley struggled to a 5-over 77 to drop into a share of 18th at minus-3, while Pavin was one shot back at minus-2 after a 78.
Allen, last year's runner-up, charged up the leaderboard on the front nine. He was two back to start the round, but started to make his move with birdies at three and four.
The 2009 Senior PGA Champion followed with birdies at five and six. Allen capped a run of five consecutive birdies at the par-4 seventh.
After four consecutive pars around the turn, Allen birdied 12 and 13 to move to 13-under. Allen stumbled to a bogey at the 14th, but responded with a 12- foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th.
Allen tripped to a bogey on 16. He still led by one, but missed a 3-foot par putt at the last to drop into a share of the lead with Langer at minus-11.
Langer bogeyed the second, but came back with three birdies in a 4-hole span from the fourth to move to 10-under.
The German sank a 5-foot birdie effort at the 13th to get to 11-under. He parred the next two as Allen fell back to him with a bogey at the last.
Langer failed to convert an 8-foot par putt on No. 16 to drop one back. He parred the 17th. At the last, Langer knocked his approach over the green. His birdie chip to force a playoff slid by the left edge and the title was Allen's.
This was a reversal of fortune for Allen. Last year, he was on the range hoping to get into a playoff, but Fred Couples birdied the final hole of regulation to win by one.
"This feels a whole lot better than last year. Sitting here last year listening to Fred make that putt, the cheers, you know I don't root against anybody, but it feels nice to win," Allen said.
NOTES: Allen collected $240,000 for his fourth tour victory ... Langer carded his 21 consecutive round of par or better ... Langer had won 11 of the 13 times he had at least a share of the second-round lead ... After a 3-week break, the tour heads to Atlanta for a new event, the Greater Gwinnett Championship.