BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Chris Starkjohann of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif., who didn't know until late Tuesday that he would get a chance to compete in the 70th Senior PGA Championship, made the most of the opportunity by finishing with an even-par 70 and 1-over-par 281 total to tie for fifth place Sunday in the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf.

Starkjohann, a 51-year-old PGA teaching professional at Torrey Pines Gold Club & Outings in La Jolla, Calif., became the Low Club Professional in the Championship and was honored on the 18th green before a worldwide television audience. He earned $65,500, sharing fifth with the likes of 1988 PGA Champion Jeff Sluman, Gil Morgan and Fred Funk.

It was the highest finish by a PGA Club Professional in the Senior PGA Championship since 2002, when Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pa., tied for fourth at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

"It's awesome!" said Starkjohann, who later joined in a champagne toast in the clubhouse with newly-crowned Senior PGA Champion Michael Allen. "The journey has been as bad as my round, just like a rollercoaster. I can't even describe how much comfort I had this week just to be here. It wasn't even like I was competing. It was like hitting shots with my friends, playing a little threesome. It was awesome.

"I just put everything into God and He took care of it. I learned early in my career from Tracy that I can't control things. I try to but I can't control them. I didn't get worked up over missing a green, missing a fairway. It was just dealing with what I had at the time."

In the end, Starkjohann proved that he belonged among the elite of the senior circuit. He ranked first in birdies (20); was second in putting (112 overall); tied for 39th in fairways hit and tied for 51st in greens in regulation. All of that offset his making 19 bogeys and a double bogey.

"For me to lead birdies and be near the top in putting, I'm going to frame those little things," said Starkjohann. "I putted the best I've putted since the PGA Cup in '07. That was my best putting week and this was a close second."

The long journey Starkjohann took to this week began shortly after the 2007 PGA Cup, when he scored the decisive point to lift the United States to a 13½ to 12½ victory over Great Britain & Ireland. While returning home one evening with his adopted daughter, Victoria, he slipped and broke his right wrist. He was sidelined from golf for nine months.

"I was in a cast for nine months and it was a hard '08," said Starkjohann. "So, it wasn't very good financially.

Starkjohann capped his round in style, hitting a 7-iron 163 yards to within one foot of the 18th hole for a tap-in birdie.

"It was a straight shot, and I just missed the tree on my left of the fairway by three feet," said Starkjohann. "It felt great to hit a good one at that time."

Tracy Starkjohann has caddied for her husband the past 12 years, and brings her own expertise when in the heat of competition. Tracy is the reigning women's club champion at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif. and at Falbrook (Calif.) Golf Club, and owns 10 women's club titles overall.

"Chris taught me how to caddie," said Tracy, 47. "We met at Torrey Pines in 1995. I was a manager for comedians in Hollywood -- guys like Brad Garrett and Drew Carey. He was just holding on trying to make a living as a club professional. We've been together ever since."

When asked if he wants to keep the momentum going that he enjoyed for one week in Cleveland area, there was no hesitation by Starkjohann.

"I'm hoping to keep this going for another 20 years," he said, reviewing his plans to continue qualifying Champions Tour events. "Well, I'd like to see how I can do for another month or two, hopefully. So, we still got our business at home. We have a tee-time service, so that still has to be done."

There were 40 PGA club professionals entered in the 156-player field. Starkjohann led the delegation, followed by James Blair of Ogden, Utah and Bill Britton of Rumson, N.J., who share 33rd at 287. Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Mass., who shared 37th place, matched Starkjohann for the lowest 18-hole round Sunday by a PGA club professional.

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