Kite conquers Senior golfers

By Bill Kwon
Special to the Advertiser

KA'UPULEHU, Hawai'i — It was Tom Kite and the others. And the others never had a chance.

Tom Kite won a trophy and $258,000 for winning at Hualalai Golf Club. Associated Press

Propelled by a tournament-record 63 in the opening round, Kite became only the third wire-to-wire winner in the tournament's 19-year history.

"This is a great start and hopefully this will lead into a great year," said Kite. "I'm really excited about this year."

A 19-time winner on the regular tour, the 1992 U.S. Open champion felt particularly excited because he thought a new putting stroke would pay dividends.

It did. Kite earned a check for $258,000 — the largest of his Senior Tour career.

"I've hit the ball quite nicely from tee to green for the last couple of years. If I can get a putting stroke that will even come close to matching that, it should be a good year," Kite said. "It's working out. There's a lot of good reason for optimism."

John Jacobs, who made the shot of the day when he double-eagled the par-5 10th hole, finished second at 205 to earn $154,000.

Jacobs did a Chi Chi Rodriguez sword-dance imitation when his second shot with an 8-iron rolled into the cup. Only, Jacobs did it on the fairway from 189 yards away.

"Chi Chi, I've been dying to do this," Jacobs said after he did his Rodriguez routine and mugged for the CNBC television camera. "See you in Miami," he added, referring to next week's tour stop, the Royal Caribbean Classic.

With the trade winds suddenly changing 180 degrees to a southerly kona, the 10th played downwind, enabling Jacobs to launch his drive 377 yards.

The rare double eagle — there were only three all last year on the Senior Tour — enabled Jacobs to pick up three strokes on playing partner Kite, who parred the hole. But Kite birdied the next two holes to go to 15-under for a five-stroke lead, then birdied the 18th hole for good measure.

"I gave them a little opening on the front nine, but I was glad I was able to close the door on the back nine," said Kite, who birdied 11, 12, 15 and 18 with some deadly iron approaches.

He opened the day with a three-putt bogey at the first hole and also bogeyed the par-3 eighth when he missed his only green all day. Birdies on both of the front side's par-5s and another birdie at No. 9 enabled Kite to still make the turn one under.

Kite saw his lead shrink to three on the 10th, but said: "I wasn't worried. I still had the lead, but it was certainly three shots less of a lead. But I hit probably the best shot of the week on 11. It was a huge turnaround for me, especially after J.J. made double eagle."

Kite drove into a deep right fairway bunker and had a blind 164-yard shot to the 11th green. He hit a frozen rope of a 4-iron to 10 feet for a birdie.

The remarkable recovery even had Jacobs shaking his head.

"It really shows what a champion he is. That kind of shows you what he's made of," Jacobs said.

Bobby Wadkins won the Battle of the Brothers with Lanny by placing third at 208 and winning $103,000. He and Lanny began the day tied for fifth at 138. Bobby closed with a 68, while older brother Lanny shot even-par 72.

Defending champion Larry Nelson closed with a 70 to finish in a four-way tie for fifth at 209 with Allen Doyle, Walter Hall and Bruce Fleisher.

Hale Irwin, who is heading to Wailea for Saturday's Senior Skins Game with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Fuzzy Zoeller, struggled coming in for a 75 and a 216 total.

SHORT PUTTS: MasterCard International extended its sponsorship of the Senior PGA Tour's season-opening tournament of champions for another six years through 2008, the company announced yesterday, although it didn't specifically mention Hualalai. "It's a bad break, having to come back here for six more years," kidded winner Tom Kite. "We appreciate its continued support of the MasterCard Championship, which players thoroughly enjoy playing in each year," said PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem. "It's a wonderful tournament to launch our season." ... Hilo native Steve Veriato, a first-time winner last year, double-bogeyed both of the par-3 holes on the front nine to wind up shooting a 7-over 79 for a 221 total. He placed 30th in the 33-player field, earning $13,750. ... Yesterday, Veriato and Hubert Green became the only golfers to bogey the par-5 fourth hole all week. Still, No. 4 was the easiest hole in the tournament with a 4.424 scoring average. The par-3 fifth was the most difficult with an average score of 3.253. ... By winning $24,750 for his tie for 16th, Jim Colbert maintained his lead as the all-time MasterCard Championship money leader with $511,416. Hale Irwin is second at $480,437. ... Recording the only three double eagles on the Senior Tour last year were Gil Morgan, Bobby Wadkins and Walt Morgan.