Mark Brown, Matt Dobyns shoot 62, win Senior-Junior Team Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – After watching partner Matt Dobyns birdie six of the first eight holes Thursday, Mark Brown wanted to join in on the fun.

Brown got his chance on the par-4 12th hole of the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club when he had 111 yards to the pin.

“A perfect distance,” Brown said.

Brown hit a perfect shot, the ball dropping into the cup for an eagle. That gave the Glen Head, N.Y. residents the lead for good and they won the PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship by three shots.

MORE: Final scores from the Senior-Junior Championship

“That was the key moment,” Dobyns said of Brown’s eagle at No. 12. “That kick-started the back nine for us.”

“I knew it was good when my wife couldn’t find the ball,” Brown joked.

Dobyns added three more birdies – giving him nine for the day – as they combined for a 10-under 62 that left them at 32-under 256.

“It’s easier to make a lot of birdies when you’re playing with par and birdie as a partner,” Dobyns said. “It’s a lot freer feeling. Maybe I should try that.”

Brown and Dobyns split $10,000 from the $90,000 purse.

Four teams tied for second at 29-under 259, including defending champions Lon Nielsen of Port St. Lucie and Joshua Rackley (64) of Glen Head, N.Y.

They won a year ago when rains wiped out the final round. This week’s event was played under picture-perfect weather, and the scores showed it.

“You’d like to win, but second is good,” Nielsen said. “This is a great format. I absolutely love playing in this tournament. It’s the best event of the Winter Series.”

Also tied for second were the teams of Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J. and Brett Jones (65) of Basking Ridge, N.J.; Rick Schuller of Chester, Va., and Bob Sowards (64) of Dublin, Ohio; and Craig Stevens of Dallas, Ga., and Brett Melton (64) of Washington, Ind.

“We left some shots out there,” said Esposito, whose team was tied for the lead with the winner entering the final round. “But they played great. They made a lot of putts.”

After a week off for the PGA Merchandise Show, the PGA Winter Championships return with a new event, the Four-Ball Stableford Team Championship Jan. 30-Feb 2.