ATLANTA -- Jay Sigel made four birdies in the first nine holes and held off late charges from defending champion Mike McCullough and Jim Albus to capture the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in suburban Atlanta on Saturday.

Sigel followed up an opening-round, 7-under-par 65 on Friday with a 3-under-par 69 on Saturday to take home the title, his first win since 2003. For his efforts, Sigel took home the first-place check of $85,000. Sigel’s two-round total of 10-under-par 134 was good for a two-shot victory over runner-up McCullough at the 6,826-yard, par-72 Hawks Ridge layout.

Sigel began the final round three shots ahead of McCullough, whose first-round 68 left him alone in second place starting the day. After a birdie at the first hole and a bogey at the third, Sigel made three straight birdies at Nos. 6, 7 and 8 to make the turn at 10-under-par and hold a four-shot lead over Albus, the eventual third-place finisher.

Albus made a run at Sigel on the back nine, making birdie on the par-3 12th and eagle at the par-5 13th to get to 8-under par before a double bogey at the 17th hole ended his chances. After playing the front nine in even par, McCullough ran off four birdies on the back nine to get to within two strokes of the eventual champion. All three men made birdie on the par-5 finishing hole.

“Things tightened up a bit on the back nine,” said the 62-year-old Sigel. “I’ve been through this enough to know that it’s not over until it’s over. I tried not to pay attention to what Jim and Mike were doing and just finish the game. It means a lot to win.”

Dave Eichelberger and Jim Dent finished tied for fourth place at 5-under-par 139. Sigel’s opening-round 65 was the low round of the tournament.

The Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions Championship features Champions Tour players age 60 and over competing in a 36-hole, stroke-play event for a $400,000 purse.