Going against the County and Western song’s advice--“What Happens in Mexico, Stays in Mexico”—here’s the scoop on the first Texas Pro Golf Tour Championship at the Golf Club at Moon Palace in Cancun.

Henry Cagigal of Fort Worth, the oldest of 11 qualifiers at age 43, claimed the $2,100 prize by winning an exciting playoff from David Studebaker of Burkburnett on the third extra hole after the duo had finished with one-over-par 73s on the difficult Jack Nicklaus-designed Moon Palace course.

With darkness falling and making it difficult to even see the line of the putt, Cagigal recalled a slightly longer putt from the same line earlier in the day and rolled in a four-footer for birdie on the No. 10 hole.

“The putt looked like it would move to the left, but didn’t earlier,” Cagigal. “So I just hit it inside left.”

Studebaker rolled in a testy six-footer on the second playoff hole (No. 18) to remain alive.
Studebaker appeared to have the edge on the first playoff hole (No. 9) when he unleashed a 370-yard drive and Cagigal’s drive ended up in the jungle. Cagigal wisely chipped out sideways rather than trying a more risky shot. That left him with 246 yards.

His 3-wood hit on the green and rolled very close to the pin before finishing about five yards over. Studebaker’s approach also landed on the green, but rolled about 10 more yards. Studebaker’s chip was too hard, leaving him with a 10-footer for birdie. Cagigal chipped up close and got his par. Studebaker’s putt to win—“I thought it was straight”—broke off to the left.

After starting with a double bogey on the first hole, Cagigal reeled off two birdies and an eagle on the next three holes to assume command. He chipped in from 10 yards right of the third green and holed a 45-footer on the fourth hole.

Meanwhile, Studebaker got off to a slow start. His 3-wood on the 320-yard fifth did not clear the water and he had to get up and down just to save a bogey. He also found the water on No 9 and finished the front side with a 39, five behind Cagigal.

Cagigal, who used his driver only twice all day, drove into the fairway bunker that split the 12th fairway and took a double bogey. “I knew that bunker was right where my 3-wood might end up,” he admitted. “I should have use a 2-iron.”

Studebaker, who had to settle for $1,700, moved within one stroke with a birdie on the 13th and then saved par from 10 feet on the difficult par-3 15th.

Cagigal’s 3-iron never made it over the water on that same hole and he had to return to one of the shorter tees for his third shot, which ended up about 30 feet away. He rolled in that putt for a bogey to at least keep a share of the lead.

Both players parred the final three holes, but Studebaker had a scare on No. 17 after seeing his approach find a bunker, having to make a nine-footer to save his three.
TPGT owner Scott Drewett added to the playoff excitement when he announced that the winner would qualify for the second Tour Championship, most likely back at the Cancun course.

Only three other players managed to break 80. Tim Mewis had a 77 for third place and $1,000 while Justin Bates and Bill Hamrick won $350 each for 79s.