Golf roundup
Gilder repeat winner in last Constellation Energy Classic HUNT VALLEY, Md. (AP) – No one will miss the Constellation Energy Classic more than Bob Gilder.
Gilder shot a 7-under 65, the lowest round of the day on Sunday, to overcome a three-shot deficit and successfully defend his title, finishing two strokes ahead of Brad Bryant, Don Pooley and Jay Haas in the final year of the Champions Tour event.
“Now we’re leaving. He’s going to go into mourning,” Bryant said. “It’s going to be terrible (for him). It’s like the Bob Gilder Annuity Fund here.”
Next year, the Senior Players Championship comes to nearby Baltimore Country Club.
It was Gilder’s ninth Champions Tour win, but only his second since 2003. Both have come at Hayfields Country Club, where he has never finished worse than 14th in five appearances. Perhaps he might consider petitioning the tour to stage another event at Hayfields?
“That probably wouldn’t do any good,” he said. “But we do have a great venue coming up next year. I’d sure like to win that one.”
Gilder posted a seven-birdie, no-bogey final round to finish at 14 under. Bryant, seeking his third victory of the season, shot his third straight 68. Haas also carded a 68, and second-round leader Pooley settled for a 70. Chip Beck, playing in his first Champions Tour event, shot a 66 to tie Tom Watson for fifth at 11 under.
Nationwide Tour
BOISE, Idaho – Kevin Stadler wrapped up a PGA Tour card for next season, winning the Boise Open for his second Nationwide Tour title in two months.
Stadler, the 26-year-old son of Champions Tour star Craig Stadler, closed with a 5-under 66 for a one-stroke victory over Glen Day.
Also a one-stroke winner over Day in early August in the Xerox Classic in Rochester, N.Y., Stadler has four career Nationwide Tour wins. He also the Argentina Open in December and the Johnnie Walker Classic – sanctioned by the European, Australasian and Asian tours – in February in Australia.
Stadler earned $117,000 to jump from 18th to third on the money list with $286,407, with the top 20 at the end of the season earning 2007 PGA Tour cards. He also moved within a victory of an immediate promotion to the big tour.
Madrid Masters
MADRID, Spain – England’s Ian Poulter won the Madrid Masters for his first European tour title in two years, closing with a 3-under 69 for a five-stroke victory.
Poulter finished with a 22-under 266 for his first win since beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff in the 2004 Volvo Masters. Spain’s Ignacio Garrido (66) was second.
Clarke will fly to London to meet with his European Ryder Cup teammates before traveling to The K Club outside Dublin for the event, which begins Friday.
Senior Amateur
NEWBURGH, Ind. – Georgia golf store manager Bill Leonard shot a 2-under 70 to share stroke-play medalist honors with Paul Simson in the USGA Senior Amateur.