Fleisher defends title, takes over Senior money lead

JERICHO, N.Y. -- Bruce Fleisher didn't look the guy who just won the Long Island Classic in record fashion.

"Today was not fun," he said Sunday after a 3-under-par 69 gave him a tournament record total of 18-under 198 as he repeated as champion at the Meadow Brook Club. "I won today with my heart, not my game. My game wasn't there. It was difficult."

Fleisher set the course record with a 63 in the opening round, and his 36-hole total of 15-under 129 was another record in the Senior PGA Tour event. His 198 was two strokes better than the record set by Lee Trevino in 1994.

The win was Fleisher's fourth of the year on the tour and the first prize of $225,000 moved him past Hale Irwin and into first place on the money list with $1,837,906 in 21 events. Irwin, who has three wins this year but did not play this week, has earned $1,647,948 in 16 tournaments.

"It was very strange. I played so wonderful all week," he said. "I still had confidence but I was apprehensive, anxious for some reason."

Fleisher started the final round with a three-stroke lead over Allen Doyle, and nobody was able to get closer to him than two strokes despite an off-round that included his first three bogeys of the tournament.

He answered both of his back-nine bogeys with birdies, the last a short putt on the par-5 17th that put him 18 under.

Dana Quigley, the 1997 champion in the tournament sponsored by Lightpath, had a closing 67 and finished at 16-under 200, one stroke in front of Doyle, who had a 69. It was the fifth second-place finish of the year for Quigley, who has won one tournament.

"On this tour it seems there's always someone better than I am," Quigley said. "I knew it would take a low score to catch Bruce. He's too consistent, doesn't mess up much."

Leonard Thompson had a 67 and was at 202, while Gary McCord, who had a 65, and Jim Thorpe, who had a 69, were another stroke back.

Just like last year, Fleisher led from start to finish. He won seven tournaments as a rookie in 1999, and this was the third time he successfully defended one of those titles. The reigning senior player of the year and money champion passed $6 million in career earnings, more than half coming in his two years as a senior. He won one tournament in his 27 years on the PGA Tour.

"Every week is a new week," he said. "You just have to keep proving yourself over and over again. I gutted it out. I really didn't play that well."

Fleisher got to 17 under with a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 third.