Inman defends title for second time

Joe Inman won the SBC Senior Classic for the third straight year today, shooting a 6-under-par 65 in rainy conditions for a three-stroke victory over Larry Nelson.

Inman birdied five of the final nine holes in a bogey-free round on the Wilshire Country Club course. He finished with a 15-under 198 total, and earned $210,000.

"I made a great birdie on the fourth hole and chipped in from 25 feet on the 11th hole,'' Inman said. "And on the final hole, I just tried to hit it short and left of the flag and I hit it within 5 feet. I've never played better or hit the ball better.''

Inman, 52, is the fifth player in Senior PGA Tour history to win the same event three straight years. Inman's only senior victories have come in the event. He won the 1976 Kemper Open for his lone PGA Tour title.

Nelson, a six-time winner this season, also closed with a 65 en route to his seventh second-place finish of the year. He earned $123,200 to increase his tour-leading total to $2,660,005.

"I caught everyone but Joe,'' Nelson said. "He was so comfortable and he really putted well.''

Australia's Stewart Ginn shot a 68 to finish third at 198. He earned $100,888 to move into 29th place on the money list -- good enough for a place in next week's Senior Tour Championship.

Jim Thorpe (69) was fourth at 205, and Tom Kite (68) and Ireland's Christy O'Connor (66) tied for fifth at 206.

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