MASON — People were already congratulating Tom Jenkins, though he tried not to listen.

Jim Thorpe celebrates his eagle on 18. (Tony Tribble photos) | ZOOM |

        When he finished his final round at the Kroger Senior Classic on Sunday, Jenkins was two shots ahead of his closest competitor, Jim Thorpe, who was teeing off on No.18.

        “You know it's not over,” Jenkins said. “Through experience, you know not to count your chickens before they hatch.”

        Tournament officials were getting ready for the check presentation. The Waterford crystal trophies were on their way to the 18th green.

        Then Thorpe knocked his second shot on the par-5 hole to within 10 inches of the cup. He would tap it in for an eagle, force a playoff and win on the same hole with a birdie.

        “I could probably hit a million combos and never duplicate that shot again,” Thorpe said.

Tom Jenkins had a premonition. | ZOOM |

        Jenkins had to settle for second place — and $132,000 — despite a career-low round of 63.

        “By rights, he probably should've won the golf tournament,” Thorpe said. “But it's never over 'til it's over.”

        Both players finished at 10-under 130 for the 36-hole event, shortened by rain Friday that canceled the first round. Dana Quigley was third at 8-under 132 and earned $108,000.

        Thorpe, 52, has had a season of near misses. He was runner-up twice, including at the Senior PGA Championship, and had nine top-10 finishes coming into this past weekend.

        He was tied with Larry Nelson atop the leaderboard after Saturday's first round and birdied three of the first six holes to go to 8-under Sunday.

Thorpe lost a playoff to Jenkins in 1999. | ZOOM |

        Jenkins was two shots behind Thorpe entering the final day and didn't start to make a move until midway through his round when he birdied Nos. 9-12 to get to 8-under.

        He was 9-under entering No. 18 and had a chance to lock up the victory when his second shot left him about 12 feet from the hole.

        But his downhill putt broke more than he expected and went outside the right of the cup.

        “I just didn't give it enough effort; it broke off too soon,” Jenkins said. “I missed three putts (on the final three holes) that would've probably closed the door. Any time you leave it open, there's always room for some miracle shot at the end of the tournament.”

        On the first playoff hole, both hit similar tee shots off No. 18. It was the second shot that decided it.

        Thorpe hit a 4-wood to the fringe, about 30 feet from the hole. Jenkins' 5-wood landed in high rough with a tough lie on the short side of the flag. His first chip shot was short of the green. He had to chip again, then made par.

        Thorpe knocked a 30-foot putt to within about a foot. He easily putted for his birdie and became the 12th different Kroger champion in 12 years.

        “Winning never comes easy,” said Thorpe, who lost a playoff to Jenkins in Philadelphia in 1999.

        He collected $225,000, his biggest paycheck as a pro golfer.

        And Thorpe is a guy who appreciates the cash. He said he was headed to Argosy Casino for the fifth straight night after his victory.

        The former Morgan State University running back has admittedly had problems hanging on to his prize money in past years. At one time, he owned 16 race horses and used to be a regular at the track. He said that after losing a playoff to Scott Verplank at the 1985 Western Open, he had to send his entire $90,000 runner-up check to Atlantic City to pay off debts.

        Now, he said, he knows his limits.

        He had been winning all week at Argosy until early Saturday night, when he estimated that he lost between $800 to $900 on slot machines and $3,000 playing blackjack. Then he went to a craps table with a hot roller, and won $5,800.

        “I'm going back right now,” he said with a smile as he left The Golf Center at Kings Island.

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