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Nelson one back Hill takes over lead in FleetBoston Classic
Updated: Saturday June 23, 2001 6:41 PM
CONCORD, Mass. (AP) -- Mike Hill is teaching all those young whipper-snappers on the senior tour a thing or two about golf. The 62-year-old "Super Senior" shot a 6-under-par 66 on Saturday in the second round of the $1.4 million FleetBoston Classic, taking a one-stroke lead into the final day as he goes for his first senior victory in five years. At 62 years, 5 months and 28 days old, Hill would be the third-oldest golfer to win on the senior tour and the oldest since Gary Player won the Northville Long Island Classic three years ago at 62 years, 9 months. "For me to be leading the tournament is probably a big surprise for a lot of people other than myself," he said after picking up a $34,000 check for winning the Super Senior event, a two-day tournament within a tournament for players 60 and over. "I come out to play with the guys who are 60 and over. I try to beat them," said Hill, who's cut his schedule back to play only in the 16 Super Senior events. "If somebody my age can win a golf tournament, I think it does a lot for the senior tour." Defending champion Larry Nelson, the first-round leader with a 65, shot a 69 in the second round -- bogeying the 17th hole to drop to 10 under and finish the day one stroke behind Hill. It was Nelson's first bogey of the tournament. Mike McCullough had the low round of the day, making birdie on five of the last six holes to shoot 65 and vault from a 14-way tie for 19th place into a tie for third with Allen Doyle (69), two strokes back. Dave Eichelberger and Jose-Maria Canizares were at 8 under, three strokes back over the 6,777-yard Nashawtuc Country Club course. Hill made birdie on four of five holes before a bogey on No. 9 left him at 8-under at the turn. He picked up three more birdies on the back nine, on Nos. 10, 15 and 17. "He's playing great," said Doyle, who at 52 doesn't plan to stick around for more than five or six years. "That's the beauty of this tour: Guys over 60 have proven they can win. I respect ... them because they can still play like crazy." Hill won this event in 1992, one of 18 wins since joining the senior tour in 1989. But he hasn't won since the Bank One Classic in 1996, which was also the last time he was in the lead after 36 holes. Last year, Hill's best finish was fifth in the Foremost Insurance Championship; twice this year he has tied for ninth. "I like it here. I like this golf course," Hill said. "When you come back to a place where you enjoy playing, I think it enhances your chances of playing well." J.C. Snead had a hole-in-one on the 168-yard 17th hole, knocking in his 6-iron shot. It's Snead's fourth on the senior tour and the fourth ace in the history of the FleetBoston Classic. Usually held in August, the tournament moved up in the year to attract some of the names who were coming to Boston for next week's U.S. Senior Open at the Salem Country Club, about 30 miles away.
Divots: Stewart Ginn withdrew because of the death of his mother in
Australia. He also will miss next week's U.S. Senior Open. ...
McCullough's 65 tied his lowest round of the year. ... Before
Saturday, the last hole-in-one at the FleetBoston Classic was in
1993, when Bob Murphy aced the 17th hole.
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