Morgan clinches win with closing 67

When Gil Morgan finds a golf course that he likes, he plays very well.

Morgan won his first title of the year and 21st of his senior career Sunday, shooting a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory in the BellSouth Senior Classic. It was his second victory at the Springhouse Golf Club where he has finished no worse than fifth.

``Obviously, it's been a great golf course for me,'' Morgan said.

``I always seem to play the par 5s really well, and that's beneficial. ... It just sets up for my shot better.''

The 55-year-old Morgan, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, moved into seventh place on the Senior PGA Tour victory list with his first win since The Instinet Classic a year ago. He has won six tournaments twice.

``That's unbelievable,'' said Morgan, who has been bothered by a couple bulging discs in his neck.

Trailing by a stroke at the start of the round, Morgan had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys for a 14-under 202 total.

Bruce Fleisher (69), Mike McCullough (68) and Dana Quigley (69) tied for second. Leonard Thompson (67) and Monday qualifier Morris Hatalsky (69) finished four strokes back, and Rodger Davis (67), Bobby Wadkins (68), Butch Sheehan (69) and Fuzzy Zoeller (72) were five shots behind Morgan.

Fleisher said Morgan obviously hasn't played up to his potential most of this year because of his health problems. Morgan had only three top-10 finishes through his first 12 events.

``Obviously, he didn't struggle this week,'' Fleisher said. ``He certainly likes this golf course.''

Jay Sigel led after each of the first two rounds, but he struggled on the greens for a second straight day. He shot a 76 to drop into a tie for 21st at 210.

Morgan, playing with Sigel and Zoeller in the final group, birdied the par-5 opening hole for a share of the lead at 10 under. Sigel three-putted No. 2, giving Morgan the lead to himself.

With little or no wind most of the day, nearly everyone shot low. Morgan did his part to keep it interesting with his bogeys before stringing together birdies on Nos. 16 and 17.

He lost the lead briefly when he bogeyed the par-4 fifth, but rebounded with his eagle on the par-5 sixth. He shared the lead with Hatalsky and Fleisher when they each birdied No. 10 to reach 11 under.

Morgan also birdied No. 10 and seemed to put away the victory with a short birdie putt on the par-3 14th.

Morgan gave back another stroke with a bogey on the par-3 15th, then strung together his only consecutive birdies as Fleisher and McCullough failed to keep pace.

``I thought surely one of those guys would take out of there and come on up to 12, 13 under at least. But nobody did,'' Morgan said.

Fleisher, criticized for bypassing the U.S. Open, said he failed to convert his opportunities on the back nine that could have given him his first victory of the year. He left a 5-footer short on No. 12 that could have given him a share of the lead, then missed birdie putts on Nos. 13, 16 and 17.

Finishing second probably worked out for the best.

``That would've brought even more controversy,'' Fleisher said.

Divots

Morgan picked up 240 points in the Charles Schwab Cup race. ... Sammy Rachels, who won his first senior title here last year with a final-round 63, shot a 69 to finish at 210. ... David Eger, who had country singer Vince Gillas his caddie throughout the tournament, closed with a 72 for a 211 total.

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