This club pro nearly pulled off an epic victory on the Champions Tour

Jason Caron’s day job is Head Golf Professional at Mill River Club in Oyster Bay, N.Y., living out his days on the northern shore of Long Island. It’s not a bad job if you can get it.

His moonlighting gig isn’t too shabby either.

In addition to his head pro duties, Caron is also a Champions Tour pro. Yes, you read that correctly. When the 52-year-old is not at Mill River Club earning his regular paycheck, he’s out on the senior circuit competing against the legends of the game.

Caron earned his Champions Tour card last season after an epic 10-tournament run in which he registered four top-five finishes. This all came after he qualified his way into the Senior PGA, eventually parlaying the opportunity into a 35th place finish on the season-long standings and a card on one of the most exclusive tours in the world.

That Cinderella-like run featured yet another chapter last week at the Cologuard Classic in Tuscon, Ariz.

Caron, playing in his second event of the 2025 Champs Tour season, fired rounds of 67, 68 and 66 at La Paloma Country Club to finish in a tie atop the leaderboard with Steven Alker. His final-round 66 featured birdies on the final three holes — and four over his last six holes — to post the clubhouse lead over a field including major winners such as Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington and Bernhard Langer.

Caron last played full-time professional golf in 2003 on what is now known as the Korn Ferry Tour. But after stuffing his final approach within tap-in range on the 18th hole, he was on the cusp of a victory among some of the most accomplished players in the world.

Alas, just like in the fairy tale, the clock eventually had to strike midnight.

Two groups behind Caron, Steven Alker — another famous late-bloomer — was making a run of his own. After bogeying the par-3 7th hole, the Kiwi played his final 11 holes in six-under par to post a final-round 66 of his own to force a playoff with Caron. Once in extra holes, Alker did not waste the opportunity, birdieing the first extra hole for his ninth career Champions Tour victory.

Caron may have come up just short, but his consolation prize comes in the form of a week’s pay of $193,000. Not a bad week’s wages for a second job.