WHAT COULD BE MORE FITTING THAN a Mexican-born Champions Tour rookie winning on Cinco de Mayo?
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| Via Esteban Toledo on Twitter |
That’s what happened on Sunday at the Insperity Championship in The Woodlands, Texas, when 50-year-old Esteban Toledo won in his ninth start on the Champions Tour. Toledo fired a 67 in the final round, and then beat Mike Goodes on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Toledo is the first Mexican to win on the Champions Tour. That he broke through on Cinco de Mayo, which marks the Mexican victory in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, is even better.
“It’s a special day for me,” Toledo said.
“It’s a holiday and it’s just winning on that day is the most incredible thing I’ve ever done, because winning on the Champions Tour, it’s hard. I have dreams and goals in my life that I was going to win on the Champions Tour, and I think I’m going to keep winning.”
Toledo was seven shots behind leader Sauers starting the final round. He eagled the first hole, setting the tone for a charge that saw him catch the 54-hole leader. Sauers, with a 74, also made it into the playoff, but exited on the second hole after making a double bogey.
Born in Mexicali, Toledo began his golf career in 1986 at the Mexican Open and has represented the country in five world championships since then. Recently, he competed with hundreds of golfers to qualify for a spot on the Champions Tour.
Toledo’s first event was in mid March at the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, California.
Toledo is the golf ambassador for Los Cabos, Mexico.