Esteban Toledo wins Montreal C'ship with chip-in birdie on third extra hole

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Esteban Toledo won the Montreal Championship on the third hole of sudden death Sunday, meaning that both of his Champions Tour titles this season have come on the third hole of a playoff.

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Associated Press 

Series: Champions Tour

SAINTE-JULIE, Quebec – Esteban Toledo won the Montreal Championship on Sunday for his second Champions Tour victory of the season, chipping in for birdie to beat Kenny Perry on the third extra hole. 

The 50-year-old Toledo won the Insperity Championship in May in Texas to become the first Mexican winner in Champions Tour history. He also won that event on the third hole of a playoff, topping Mike Goodes with a par. 

Toledo shot a 3-under 69 to match Perry at 5-under 211 on La Vallee du Richelieu's Rouville Course. Perry, the Senior Players Championship and U.S. Senior Open winner in consecutive tour starts this summer, had a 70. 

Toledo, a former boxer, swung his fist after he chipped in for the birdie. 

"I always celebrate with a left hook," Toledo said. 

Perry had a chance for force another hole, but his long putt was wide left. 

"When Kenny missed the putt on the third playoff hole I was shocked, really," Toledo said. "I know it was a 20-footer, but it was makeable to tie me." 

They each parred the par-4 18th twice in the playoff, and Toledo won on the par-3 10th. 

"I really like Esteban," Perry said. "He's a talented kid. He works hard and I was very proud of him. That was a great shot. I said, `One of us needs to make a birdie.' Bad for me, but good for Esteban. Great job." 

Perry used a cart throughout the final round because of pain in his back and right heel. 

"I was just fighting through it," Perry said. "I was just trying to finish. I came all the way up here to finish and my goal was to play 54 holes. I actually played very nicely. I drove the ball beautifully. I drove it better today than I've driven it all week. There is something to be said about the wounded guy. I guess I was more in control, more in reserve, not trying to swing so hard at it." 

Duffy Waldorf was a stroke back after a 70. 

Bernhard Langer, three strokes ahead entering the round, had a 75 to tie for fourth at 3 under with David Frost, Michael Allen and Anders Forsbrand. Frost had a 70, Allen shot 71, and Forsbrand had a 72. 

The 5-under total was the highest winning 54-hole score on the tour since 2008, when Jerry Pate shot 5 under to win the Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii. 

Ozzie Newsome Reveals Top Position Priorities

Posted Jan 8, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



The Ravens need to get bigger on the line and add a receiver and an athletic safety.



As the Ravens reviewed their 2013 season at the annual “State of the Ravens” press conference, General Manager Ozzie Newsome revealed his personnel priorities heading into next season.

Newsome pointed to three specific additions he wants to make to the roster:

- Bigger interior offensive linemen

- Reliable pass catcher

- More athletic safety

Upgrading the offense after one of the statistically worst seasons in team history is a critical part of the offseason, and that process likely starts in the trenches. The line was an issue all season, as the Ravens dealt with a season-ending injury to left guard Kelechi Osemele and also had to replace retired center Matt Birk.

The Ravens replaced Osemele (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) and Birk (6-4, 310) with A.Q. Shipley (6-1, 309) andGino Gradkowski (6-3, 300). The drop-off in size hurt the line and the group had problems protecting quarterbackJoe Flacco and clearing holes in the running game.

“We’ve got to get bigger in the interior of our offensive line,” Newsome said. “That’s one of the areas that I think we need to improve on.”

Another issue on offense was in the passing game, as the Ravens lacked a sure-handed receiver to move the chains in clutch situations. The Ravens had big-play threats with Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, but they didn’t have an intermediate target as in previous years with Anquan Boldin. The injury to tight end Dennis Pittaalso hurt the offense’s ability to attack the middle of the field.

Getting Flacco another reliable target is important to Newsome.

“We need to be able to get a receiver – whether it’s a tight end or a wide receiver – that can make a third-and-7, third-and-8 catch and run some after the catch,” he said.

Newsome said he and Harbaugh have even identified the type of receiver they want.

“I already know this and I won’t share it with you,” Newsome joked.

Defensively, the Ravens likely don’t need to make as many changes after finishing the year ranked 12th in the NFL in total yards and points allowed.

The biggest change Newsome pointed to was the need for a rangy free safety to make more plays on the back end.

“I think we need to have a more athletic safety in the defense,” he said.

Rookie first-round pick Matt Elam played free safety this year, while James Ihedigbo started at strong safety. Elam is better suited to play strong safety, so the Ravens could add a free safety this offseason, thus allowing Elam to play his more natural position.

“I also believe in this: you get better by getting yourself better,” Newsome said. “And I have no doubt with the work that John and his staff have done in the past, we can have that. The players that we retain on this team will be better players.”