From there, it turned into a test of nerve. Two extra holes later, Peterson had his answer. A steady finish across the playoff gave him the edge and the title, capping rounds of 71-71-69. Hoops, who had been sharp early in the week with a 68, ultimately settled for runner-up after rounds of 68-74-69.

Behind them, Randy Haag (Orinda, Calif.) quietly put together one of the steadiest weeks in the field, finishing third at even-par 216 (74-70-72). Defending champion Kevin VandenBerg finished T-6 at 5-over 221 after rounds of 74-74-73.

If the Senior division set the tone, the rest of the championship followed suit.

In the Super Senior division, Scott Ray (Central City, Ky.) was the only player who managed to avoid extra holes—and even that came with little breathing room. His three-round total of 5-over 221 (72-74-75) was just enough for a one-shot win over David Nelson (Littleton, Colo.) and Gary Albrecht (Castle Rock, Colo.), who both finished at 6-over 222. It was a grind of a victory, built on consistency rather than flashes.

The Legends division brought more late tension. Evan Long (Charlotte, N.C.) and Marshall Morgan (Fort Worth, Texas) couldn’t be separated after 54 holes, both finishing at 9-over 225. Long, who closed with the low round of the day (72), carried that momentum into the playoff and wasted little time, winning on the first extra hole. Morgan, who had surged with a second-round 71, came up just short.

One of the bigger storylines there was Michael Jonson, who fell short in his bid for a three-peat. The two-time defending champion finished T-22 at 22-over 238.

And still, the drama wasn’t done.