Golf

Gilder wins at Milton with record 17 under

MILTON -- Bob Gilder won the Emerald Coast Classic with a tournament record 17-under-par 193 and a record-tying four-stroke margin Sunday.

Gilder, who shared the second-round lead with Tom Watson, shot 7-under 63 in the final round on the 6,832-yard, par-70 course at the Moors Golf Club. His total topped the 54-hole record of 196 set by Gil Morgan and Isao Aoki in 1997. Aoki then won a playoff.

The four-stroke victory margin also tied a tournament record Morgan set in 2000.

"It was really fun because I wasn't nervous. I felt in control," Gilder said. "You only get nervous when you're not playing well."

Leonard Thompson, Larry Nelson and Vicente Fernandez tied for second, two strokes ahead of Tom Purtzer and Dana Quigley. Graham Marsh and Bobby Wadkins finished at 200.

Watson finished in a tie for 15th, 11 strokes back at 204. That continued his Florida frustration. Watson has played 85 PGA and Champions tour events in the Sunshine State without a victory during a professional career spanning three decades.

Gilder is the eighth different winner in as many Champions Tour events this year. He is the ninth different winner in the Emerald Coast's nine years.

The final round started with 10 golfers bunched within three strokes of the lead, but Gilder took control by making birdie on the first three holes. Watson faded just as quickly with bogey on the first hole, par on the second and another bogey on the third.

Gilder won $217,500 from a purse of $1.45-million. It was his seventh Champions Tour title.

Defending champion Dave Eichelberger finished 22 strokes back at 215.

Morgan, who finished eight strokes back at 201, retained his Charles Schwab Cup lead with 717 points. Quigley is second with 598.

FIRST TEE ARKANSAS CLASSIC: Ted Purdy won his first Nationwide Tour title, beating Chris Tidland with birdie on the third playoff hole at Hot Springs. The playoff ended in near darkness after a 36-hole windup.

ALGARVE OPEN: Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden eagled the 17th hole and finished at par 72 to win by a stroke over three players at Faro, Portugal. It was his second victory in eight years on the European PGA Tour.

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