By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

STEVENS POINT – Germany’s Bernhard Langer needed to hold off a late Wisconsin push by Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly to pick up a historic victory at the U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld in Stevens Point today. 

Langer passes Hale Irwin as the winningest Champions Tour player of all time by picking up his 46th win this week.

“It’s extremely special, especially to win the U.S. Senior Open,” Langer said directly after the championship. “I couldn’t have dreamed a better 46th victory.” 

The laser focus by Langer from early in the week continued in his final round, adding to his two-shot lead with two birdies on the opening two holes.

“I got off to another really good start and felt very comfortable,” he said. “It increased my lead which settled me down even more.” 

He gained another shot on the field with a four at the par-5 fifth hole, bringing his tournament total up to -9. 

By then, he already built up a five-shot lead on playing partner Kelly. 

Even later, Langer was up by seven strokes before a back-nine push by Stricker.

“I think the key was not hitting it in the rough,” Langer stated as he explained how he navigated a tough golf course. “I think I only hit two or three tee balls in the rough all week.”  

After a two-over 37 on the front, the Madison native fired four birdies on the final nine holes to put his name back near the top. 

A par on 18 put him as runner-up in the tournament at five-under par. 

Kelly was stuck in neutral for most of the day. A one-over 36 on the front put a nice-sized gap between him and the Langer. 

He found a birdie on the short par-4 11th and again on the par-5 14th but dropped a shot from the sand on 12. 

He finished with a par on 18, ending his final round even par, and finished third behind Stricker at four-under-par for the week. 

Langer made five consecutive pars before dropping two shots on Nos. 16 and 17, heading to 18 with a three-shot lead. With a 72nd-hole bogey, Langer still claimed the championship by two strokes.