Birdie string gives Hanefeld Senior PGA Professional title

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Kirk Hanefeld won the Senior PGA Professional National Championship on Sunday, birdieing four straight holes late in the final round for a 4-under 69 and a four-stroke victory over Jon Fiedler and John Aubrey.

The 52-year-old Hanefeld, from Acton, Mass., birdied Nos. 14-17 at Toscana Country Club and finished at 10-under 278. He earned $20,000 and topped the 35 qualifiers for the Senior PGA Championship next May at Canterbury in Cleveland.

"I played well all week, but it showed near the end and I finished well," said Hanefeld, making his first appearance in the tournament. "I made a bunch of birdies coming in today. Prior to those, I missed some really short putts and instead of getting a lead earlier, I was right around the lead, behind or even after missing them. But the putts coming in really made the difference."

Fiedler, a PGA teaching professional at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo, Calif., closed with a 69, and Aubrey, the PGA head professional at Aubrey's Dubbs Dred Golf Course in Butler, Pa., shot a 73.

Hanefeld is the former director of golf at The International in Bolton, Mass.

"I am in a position now where I am playing a lot and my game is pretty good if I can putt well and I did," Hanefeld said. "You don't ever expect to win but you hope to every time you tee it up. I was feeling good when the week started and it could not have ended any better."