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Published: Monday November 2, 2009 MYT 1:56:00 PM

Cook wins Charles Schwab tourney, Roberts takes points title

SONOMA (California): John Cook won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championships by five strokes Sunday for his second Champions Tour title in three weeks, while Loren Roberts held on to win the season points title.

Cook closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 22-under 266 at Sonoma Golf Club. He broke the tournament record of 268 shared by Jim Thorpe and Andy Bean.

Roberts had a 66 to tie for sixth at 13-under 275 and win the points title and US$1 million annuity for the second time in three years. He had to hold off a strong surge from Bernhard Langer (68), who also finished at 13 under.

Russ Cochran (68) finished second in the tournament. Brad Bryant (69) and Jeff Sluman (68) were 15 under, and Phil Blackmar (69) was 14 under.

After opening with a 68 on Thursday, Cook shot a tournament-record 62 in the second round and followed with a 67 to enter Sunday with a comfortable lead.

Cochran birdied No. 8 to pull within five strokes, but Cook moved to 21 under when he curled in a long putt on the 427-yard, par-4 12th.

Though he continued to have a few problems off the tee, Cook stayed consistent throughout the four days and avoided getting into serious trouble.

After falling behind Langer early this season, Roberts charged back into contention with wins at the Senior British Open in July and at the Boeing Classic in Washington in August then went into the season finale with a 165-point lead.

He didn’t play well the first two rounds in Sonoma, but corrected a flaw while on the driving range late Friday night then played 12 under the rest of the weekend to secure the points title.

Joey Sindelar, Cook’s college roommate at Ohio State, remained hospitalised after having a pulmonary embolism during the third round.

The Champions Tour said Sindelar’s condition had improved but doctors at Sonoma Valley Hospital wanted to keep the 51-year-old for further observation.

Sindelar withdrew Saturday and was taken to the hospital for dizziness and shortness of breath after playing the fourth hole. Sindelar rested in between holes and tried to play the fifth before withdrawing.

Medical personnel attended to Sindelar at the course before he was taken to the hospital for additional tests. Sindelar, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, was 7 under for the tournament before withdrawing. - AP

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