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Doctor, doctor Morgan wins Instinet Classic with record performance
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) -- Dr. Gil Morgan doesn't mind being nervous since it usually means he's in the hunt for a championship. Morgan steadied his nerves Sunday to shoot a 66 and finished with a tournament record 17-under-par 199 in winning the Senior PGA Instinet Classic by four strokes at TPC Jasna Polana. Morgan admitted to some anxious moments during a round in which he led for the final 13 holes. "I think that's a good feeling. It means you're in contention and you've got a chance to win. But if it gets to the point where you get so nervous you can't handle the situation, that's obviously not a good situation," Morgan said. Morgan shot 67-66-66 to break Chi Chi Rodriguez's 1987 mark of 8-under 202. His 4-stroke margin over Bob Murphy and Bruce Fleisher was the second-largest in the 16-year history of the event, played for the first time at two-year-old Jasna Polana. It also marked the first time in three years the tournament didn't go to a playoff. Fleisher shot 66 and Murphy shot 70 to tie for second at 13-under. Defending champion Tom Jenkins, who led after one round and was tied for first after two, was fourth at 12-under after shooting 71. "I didn't quite play well enough to get the job done and Gil was right there," said Murphy, who had his best tournament in 10 outings since undergoing surgery on his right knee in early March. "I kept telling myself I had to start challenging the pin and make some birdies, but I didn't have enough." In winning the $210,000 purse, Morgan earned his second title this year and 17th on the Senior Tour. His last victory was the Emerald Coast Classic in March. "It was nice to win; it seemed like it was a long tough day," Morgan said. "I made a few mistakes but at the same time I was able to cover them up to salvage the day." Morgan, Jenkins and Murphy began the day at 11-under and were even at 12-under after five holes. Morgan birdied No. 6 to take the lead for good, and added birdies at 7 and 8 to open a three-stroke lead. Murphy birdied No. 9 to get within two strokes. It stayed that way until Morgan birdied 15 to go 3-up on Murphy and Fleisher. Morgan, a licensed doctor of optometry, finished with his eighth birdie of the day on the par-5 18th, giving him 10 birdies on 12 par-5 holes for the tournament. Morgan entered the day leading the Senior Tour with birdies on 46.7 percent of the par 5's he played, and birdied all four in the final round. "Overall, I felt I drove it pretty well," Morgan said. "I hit it pretty solid." Jenkins fell off the pace beginning on the fourth hole, when he parred nine in a row before bogeying 13. Arnold Palmer completed his 1,000th official PGA Tour-Senior PGA Tour event with a 73, finishing 4 over for the tournament. Palmer shot a 1-under 35 on the back nine and was 5 under on the back nine for the tournament. John Mahaffey tied the course record with a 65, finishing at 6 under.
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