Tiziani Wins Yet Another State Senior Open, This Time in Arizona

National

RIO VERDE, Ariz. -- Having won the Minnesota Senior Open last June and the Wisconsin Senior Open in September, Mario Tiziani completed a kind of Over-50 Triple Crown in late April by winning the Arizona Senior Open.

Never one to do things the easy way, Tizianii had to come from behind to claim the victory, just as he had while winning the other two senior crowns. Starting the final round two shots behind Scottsdale teaching pro Paul Trittler, the 51-year-old former University of Wisconsin star closed with a 3-under-par 69 at Verde River Golf & Social Club for a 54-hole total of 207. That was good enough to win by one over Trittler, who shot a final-round 72.

Willie Wood, a former PGA Tour winner (and two-time winner on the Champions Tour), and Harry Rudolph both shot 71. They tied for third place, six behind Tiziani at 213.

Tiziani, who grew up in Madison but now lives in Shorewood, trailed by four going into the back nine at Keller in last year's Minnesota Senior Open, but he played those last nine holes in 4 under and won by four. He topped that three months later at Blackhawk CC in Madison, where he trailed Kurt Mantyla by 10 as he made the turn.

Mantyla had some trouble getting to the clubhouse. He missed a short par putt at the 16th, made a triple bogey at the 17h and three-putted the 18th for a bogey. But Tiziani did his part. He birdied six of the first seven holes on the back nine on his way to a 4-under 68 -- and then outlasted Mantyla in a five-hole sudden-death playoff.  

Tiziani didn't have to come from nearly that far behind down the stretch at Verde River. He was five behind Trittler, the 18- and 36-hole leader, after a first-round 74, but he followed that with a 64 to get within two of the lead. Tiziani and Trittler were both 2 under on the front nine in the last round; so the spread was still two shots when they reached the 10th tee. Tiziani pulled even when he birdied the 549-yard, par-5 12th hole and Trittler bogeyed it. They both birdied the par-3 13th, but then Tiziani fell behind again when he bogeyed the 15th (335 yards, par 4).

Both parred the 16th. Still one down with two holes to go, Tiziani drew even once again with a birdie at the 396-yard, par-4 17th. He then parred the 18th (429, par 4), and Trittler made a bogey, thereby enabling Tiziani to capture his third senior open title -- and $2,500 -- in a little less than 11 months.    

Arizona Senior Open Championship

At Verde River Golf & Social Club

Par 72, 7,031 yards

Rio Verde, Ariz. 

Final results

1. Mario Tiziani, Shorewood, Minn.      74-64-69--207

2. Paul Trittler, Scottsdale, Ariz.               69-67-72--208

T3. Willie Wood, Edmond, Okla.              72-70-71--213

T3. Harry Rudolph, La Jolla, Calif.           70-72-71--213

5. Brian Cooper, Phoenix, Ariz.                75-70-69--214

20. Don Berry, Brooklyn Park, Minn.     74-75-72--221