Dale Douglass

Dale Douglass, 50, of Boulder, Colo., won the Senior Open Championship in his first year of eligibility. His 72-hole total of 5-under-par 279 was a record for the championship. Gary Player finished second, one stroke behind Douglass. Harold Henning was two strokes off the pace in third.

Douglass led throughout the week. He birdied five consecutive holes -- the sixth through 10th -- in the first round. His opening-round 66 placed him two strokes ahead of Lee Elder and three ahead of Fim Ferree, James Hatfield and Ken Still. Douglass built his lead to three strokes after a second-round 72. Still and Ferree also posted 72s to remain three strokes off the pace. A third-round 68 gave Douglass a 54-hole total of 206, 7 under par. Gary Player shot 66 to move into second place at 210. Henning and Ferree were tied for third at 212.

Douglass played erratically early in the fourth round, alternating birdies and bogeys and losing one stroke to par. Player parred the first seven holes before birdieing the eighth to pull to within two strokes. Another birdie at the par-4 11th cut Douglass' lead to one. The margin remained one stroke until the 15th, where Douglass saved par from the front greenside bunker while Player three-putted from 15 feet for bogey. Player bogeyed the 16th as well to fall three strokes behind. A Player birdie on the 17th and a Douglass bogey on 18 reduced the final margin to one stroke.

Robert Hoff of Rochester, N.Y., shot 299 to earn low-amateur honors. The USGA accepted a record 1,225 entries for the championship.