Gilder wins yet another playoff

Bob Gilder earned his fourth title in eight weeks and third in a playoff Sunday at the Kroger Senior Classic, defeating Tom Jenkins with a birdie on the second sudden-death hole.

After both players parred the 18th to start the playoff, Gilder knocked his approach at the 10th within 18 inches and tapped in for victory after Jenkins missed a 12-foot birdie putt.

While his closest pursuers were setting course records, Gilder birdied two of the final five holes in regulation to close a 3-under-par 69 and force a playoff at 16-under 200.

"I didn't think 69 would get me in a playoff," said Gilder, who pocketed the $225,000 top prize. "I thought I'd have to go lower."

Gilder finished the 54-hole event with just one bogey and earned his sixth Senior Tour victory. The reigning Rookie of the Year leads the tour this season with four wins, twice going back-to-back.

"Hard to put into words winning two back-to-back events in seven weeks," said Gilder, who is second to Hale Irwin on the money list with nearly $2 million.

Jenkins matched Bruce Lietzke's course-record 62 at the scorching TPC at River's Bend, then settled for his 10th top-10 finish of the season. He was seeking his second win of the year after claiming the Canada Senior Open in July.

"To shoot 62, can't do any better than that," said Jenkins, who recorded his best round in five years on the Senior Tour.

Irwin matched the previous course mark with a 64 and ended up alone in third at 15-under 201. He is second on the tour this season with three titles.

Lietzke's 62 left him in a tie for fourth with Tom Kite at 13-under 203. Larry Nelson and Ed Dougherty were another stroke back.

"I just needed to play better on Friday and Saturday," Lietzke said.

Gilder began the day with a one-shot lead over Andy North and Ed Dougherty but stumbled over the first 13 holes, allowing Jenkins, Irwin and Lietzke to get back into contention.

Beginning the day in a tie for 29th, Lietzke just ran out of holes.

Irwin, who has been in the top three 12 times this season, birdied five of his last seven holes but missed a 12-footer at the 17th that could have put him in the playoff.

Jenkins started the final round five strokes off the pace and parred the first three holes before catching fire. He had four straight birdies to close the front nine and five more on the back.

"I missed an eight-footer at No. 1 and said, 'Here we go again,'" he said. "I made a birdie at No. 4 and thought, 'Well, maybe.'"

About an hour after Jenkins two-putted at the par-5 18th hole for birdie, Gilder failed to get up-and-down from off the front left side of the green and settled for par and his place in the playoff.

Both players parred the 18th to open sudden death, but Gilder knocked his approach stiff at the 10th and walked away with another playoff win.

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