Dave Eichelberger

Dave Eichelberger satisfied his three-decade hunger for a USGA championship, as well as the massive crowds in Iowa, by winning the 1999 U.S. Senior Open at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. "I've been trying to get my name on a USGA trophy for 30 years now," said the New Canaan, Conn., resident. "And it feels good to finally have done it. It is quite an honor to have my name associated with some of the other guys on this trophy. I am really appreciative and thank the USGA and the folks of Des Moines, really, for everything they have done."

With a cooly-solid 4-under par 68 in the final round and a 72-hole total of 7-under 281, the slender 55-year-old Texas native took a three-shot victory over three-day leader Ed Dougherty before a record crowd of 51,200 on Sunday.

Golf-friendly Iowa embraced the biggest sports event in the state's history and swelled the seven-day attendance for the practice rounds and the championship to more than 250,000.

Scrambling to his best round of the Championship, Eichelberger was bunkered on three holes but still gutted out a 68 highlighted by seven birdies. He was awarded $315,000 for his victory.

Ironically, Eichelberger was one of just five players in the field who had competed in the last USGA championship in Iowa 36 years previously -- the 1963 U.S. Amateur at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines. He won three matches before elimination in that event.

Eichelberger, who shot 71 on Thursday, 69 on Friday and lurked at 3-under 213 (one shot off the lead after three rounds), began his Sunday heroics on the 12th hole when his 3-foot birdie putt forged a tie with Dougherty at 7 under. Playing in the group ahead of Dougherty and defending champion Hale Irwin, "Ike" burst into the lead and narrowed a five-man race (that also included Gil Morgan and Bruce Summerhays) to two at the par-5 15th hole.

"I hit the best 3-wood I've ever hit in my life," Eichelberger said. "It was the most solid, absolutely perfect. I don't think I could ever hit one better again."

After a chip from the back fringe, he sunk a 3-foot birdie putt. Following his birdie, he said, "I kind of felt like it was my tournament to win at that point."

Almost simultaneously, Dougherty three-putted on the par-3 14th to drop to 5-under, three shots behind. There, Dougherty swept an 8-iron and the resulting backspin pulled his tee shot off the green. His chip was 10 feet short. The approach putt was also short and his putt for bogey rimmed the entire cup -- "it was more than 360, more like 420," Dougherty said -- leaving him with a tap-in for a double bogey.

"I was almost trying for a two putt," the burly and self-effacing Dougherty said. "And as a result, I hit the worst putt I hit all week."

Both contenders bogeyed 17 and parred 18. A somber but proud Doughtery, who shot an even-par 72 in round 4, said: "I played well. I didn't back up. I tried to move forward. I just blew a tire on the way. I don't feel like I lost this tournament -- Dave Eichelberger won."

Joe Inman, Morgan and Irwin finished tied for third at 2-under 286 and Tom Wargo shot 69 on Sunday to hold sixth place by himself at 1-under 287.

Playing in his sixth Senior Open, Eichelberger had previously recorded a best finish of T5th in 1997.