Nothing restores confidence better than breaking a two-year winless streak.

D.A. Weibring did just that as he sunk a birdie putt on the last hole of the 3M Championship last weekend to avoid a playoff with 2006 Charles Schwab Cup champion Jay Haas and win the 15th annual 54-hole tournament at the Tournament Players Club in Blaine.

"It reminded me of my first win on the Champions Tour," Weibring said. "It's just great to get back to the winner's circle."

Weibring remained near the top throughout the weekend by shooting 198 overall on the 7,100-yard course to finish 18 strokes under

par. He was tied for second with five others at seven-under during a sunny first round before edging out Jim Thorpe by a stroke for the round-two lead at 13 under. But ultimately it was Haas and Mitch Adams who tested Weibring, who had been winless on the tour since the Bruno's Memorial Classic in 2005.

"I knew there'd be good scores," Weibring said Sunday in Blaine. "Jay's a great finisher. He's a good friend of mine."

Haas, the Charles Schwab Cup points leader, came out strong on an overcast Sunday afternoon as he went from eight under to 17 under par. He stayed near the leaders all day before an eagle on No. 15 gave him the lead outright over Adams and Weibring.

"I was hoping to get off to a good start," Haas said. "I didn't think I could catch D.A."

Haas and Adams were paired together in the last round, and finished before Weibring so Haas had to wait and see if Weibring would catch up to his 17-under par.

Weibring surpassed Adams and Haas on the 18th green.

"We were pulling for each other all day," said Adams, of himself and Haas.

Weibring ended up bringing home the hardware and a check for $262,500, although he said he would donate $10,000 to the efforts of the 35W bridge tragedy relief.

Adams, who turned pro in 2005, seemed to come out of nowhere in the third round on Sunday. He started seven under par before moving up to the top of the leader board with six birdies after nine holes to go 13 under. After shooting 67 and 70 in the first two rounds, Adams finished with a solid 63,

200 overall and 16 under par.

"The guy was playing so well all day," Haas said. "He looked very confident, very comfortable."

Defending tournament champion David Edwards tied with Tom Watson at 11 under with scores of 69, 70 and 66. No one has ever won this Minnesota tournament in two consecutive years.

Since its start in 1993, the 3M Championship event has raised more than $13 million for charity, including $1.3 million this year.

"The Champions Tour is about giving back to the community," said 3M Championship media chair John Hultquist. "It's not surprising that the generosity of Minnesotans has made the 3M Championship the No. 1 charity event on the Champions Tour."

This year the 3M Championship donated additional funds to the local Red Cross in supporting efforts related to the 35W bridge tragedy, according to a 3M Championship press release. The funds are over and above the money already raised for Abbott Northwestern, United, Mercy and Unity

hospitals.

"The Champions Tour is about giving back to the communities we serve and our players and staff felt the best way to honor and help those affected by this terrible tragedy is to ensure that our players could assist in supporting local efforts by playing this long-standing event that has such a strong charitable history in the Twin Cities area," said Champions Tour President Rick George.

Some players responded to the bridge tragedy by wearing black ribbons on their hats throughout the tournament. Haas, Thorpe, Tom Jenkins and local favorite and Minneapolis native John Harris were among those to wear the ribbons.

With only one Champions Tour victory, Harris was in the hunt Sunday as he tied for third with Adams finishing at 16 under par. This was Harris' fourth top-three finish in his six-year Champions Tour career.

"It's always fun to play well," Harris said. "For most guys it's harder to play at home. I just kind of tried to have fun for the week."

The Champions Tour strives to make tournaments fan-friendly, and the 3M Championship is no exception. Fans can watch players on the edge of the greens or tee boxes to get an up-close view. Lines of fans also form just off the 18th green as players walk by and sign autographs.

Fans were treated to nine legendary players hitting the links for the Greats of Golf Challenge played earlier in the tournament week. Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino and TPC course co-designer Arnold Palmer all came out to play.

The Greats also participated in fan autograph sessions.

Players seemed to enjoy the beautiful course and the nicely groomed greens, but probably no one more than Weibring.

"I played pretty well today," Weibring said. "It was a good atmosphere out there today."