New Jersey instructor Frank Esposito Jr. wins Senior PGA Professional

Frank Esposito Jr. won the Senior PGA Professional National Championship on Sunday, closing with a 1-under 71 for a four-stroke victory.

The 51-year-old Esposito, the PGA head professional at Brooklake in Florham Park, New Jersey, holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course. He finished at 16-under 272 and earned $20,000.

"Winning this is great. It really is," Esposito said. "I didn't know what to expect. It means a lot to me, especially out here. The hard part was the waiting, the anticipation. I was ready to go. I'm not usually great doing it (playing with the lead). But, I was at peace out there. It was fun to have the lead the whole way."

The top 35 earned spots in the Senior PGA Championship in May at French Lick (Indiana) Resort.

James Mason of Dillard, Georgia, had a 70 to tie for second with Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, and Rick Schuller of Chester, Virginia. Schneiter shot 69, and Schuller had a 70.

Jerry Haas of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the golf coach at Wake Forest and brother of Champions Tour player Jay Haas, was fifth at 11 after a 70.