Stricker-Van Pelt Coast to CVS Charity Classic Win in First Try

They built a margin on the front nine that was simply insurmountable on the back nine. And they set a tournament record while rolling to a 4-stroke win. 

Steve Stricker and Bo Van Pelt birdied the first six holes and then tallied an eagle two holes later to turn a 1-stroke lead into a 4-shot margin Tuesday morning in winning their first appearance at the 15th CVS Caremark Charity Classic in Barrington.

They shot 12 under and 13 under par in the two rounds, including 23 birdies and 2 eagles, on the par 71 course. Their win beat by a stroke the 24-under-par round shot by Matt Kuchar and Zach Johnson in 2011.

The teams of co-host Billy Andrade of Bristol and Bill Haas and Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler hung in there on a scorching hot day at the Rhode Island Country Club. Andrade and his partner could only get to within two shots on the back nine before Stricker and Van Pelt rebuilt their 4-stroke lead and then coasted to the win. 

Co-host Brad Faxon of Barrington quipped at the award’s ceremony: “I’m glad Billy let you guys win so you’ll come back again.”

Stricker and Van Pelt added a couple of more birdies late to pad their lead. They played in the same foursome as Fowler and Watson, who eventually fell 7 shot behind to drop into fourth place.

Andrade and Haas took second over defending champions Morgan Pressel and Jay Haas, who matched their second round score of 61.

Here is the complete scoring: