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By BOB HARIG
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2001
HOLE OF THE DAY: No. 13, 345 yards, par 4
One of the shortest holes on the course turned out to be one of the biggest in the tournament, especially for winner Bob Gilder. Despite its length, the 13th can cause problems because of its extremely elevated green. Getting a ball close can be a challenge. But Gilder rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt to get to 8 under par, two shots ahead of his nearest pursuer. And nobody got closer the rest of the way. No. 13 proved to be the fifth-easiest hole Sunday, with a stroke average of 3.883. Gilder's was one of 18 birdies.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "You hate to play hang-on golf, but when I got a couple (of shots) ahead, those guys had to make the birdies. They had to come to me. If I don't make any mistakes, they have to make birdies. That's how I approached the last three holes." -- Bob Gilder, who won the Verizon Classic by three shots.