Senior Classic: Fernandez sinks long putt on No. 16 for 2-shot victory

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 10:40 a.m.

For all intents and purposes, Vicente Fernandez wrapped up the 14th annual Las Vegas Senior Classic by draining a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th hole Sunday at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.

As far as Fernandez was concerned, however, he didn't win it until he tapped in a 1-footer for par on 18.

"For me, always, the tournament finishes on the last hole," Fernandez said after a final-round 65 and a two-shot victory over Dave Eichelberger. "I always try to put myself in that position, but the tournament finishes with the last putt."

Eichelberger had pulled into a tie for the lead with Fernandez at 11 under par with a birdie on No. 16. Moments later, Fernandez, playing in the group behind Eichelberger's, grabbed a two-shot lead with his spectacular eagle putt.

Eichelberger, standing on the 17th green eyeing another birdie putt, heard the loud cheers from the gallery but didn't know what had hit him.

"I was not aware (Fernandez) eagled 16," Eichelberger said. "I heard the yells back there and I looked back and (Isao) Aoki was walking over to get his ball out of the hole.

"I didn't realize (Fernandez) had eagled 16. I was surprised he was able to knock it on in two."

After a spectacular drive on 16, Fernandez had 214 yards to the pin on his approach and drilled a 2-iron to the back of the water-guarded green.

Eichelberger said he didn't realize he was two shots down to Fernandez until he reached the 18th green and glanced at the leaderboard.

"On 18, I was thinking that he might be still 11 (under) or possibly 12 and I was 11 playing 18," Eichelberger said. "When I walked out on the green and looked up at the scoreboard, he was 13 under.

"My thought at that point was if I could make a birdie, I could at least make him have to get it on the green and make a par on the last hole."

Eichelberger's birdie attempt from 20 feet wasn't even close and Fernandez coasted in with pars on the final two holes to capture the $210,000 first prize and his third career Senior PGA Tour title.

Eichelberger, who closed with a 68, finished two shots back in second at 11-under 276. John Mahaffey finished alone in third place, three shots back, at 277. Frank Conner and Tom Wargo shared fourth place at 278 and Hale Irwin was sixth at 279.

Third-round leader Fred Gibson posted a final-round 75 and finished in eighth place, seven shots behind Fernandez.

Although Fernandez had a comfortable two-shot edge on Eichelberger with two holes remaining, the 53-year-old Argentinian did not let up on the final two holes.

Fernandez went for the pin on the 196-yard, par-3 17th and attacked the par-4 finishing hole as well.

"I felt very confident all day long, Fernandez said. "Even (on) 17, I hit it right to the flag, which is a tough pin to hit and I hit it quite close, maybe 10 to 12 feet. On 18, too, I hit it over the left-hand side corner of the hazard.

"I felt very confident all the way and I was patient because when you cannot take the opportunities, sometime I have the tendency to force it. I said to myself, be patient and wait and wait and wait. I got those two birdies on (Nos. 10 and 13) and then I hit two good shots on 16. Going to the last two holes two shots ahead is very different than going with only one."

The win was Fernandez's first since he captured the Bank One Classic in Lexington, Ky., in 1997 -- a drought of 20 months. The $210,000 payday pushed his career Senior PGA Tour earnings past the $3 million mark.

"Winning is very special," Fernandez said. "I was close (to winning) after my last win ... I was close last year and I was close this year.

"It was a matter of time for me to get (another) win."

And to do it in such dramatic fashion -- with an eagle putt on the 70th hole -- made it even more special.

"The first (win) was unbelievable," Fernandez said. "The second one was good because to keep winning is very important. This one, it was more pressure because I didn't win for the last almost two years.

"That makes me feel different. I knew today, going into the last round, I was under more pressure because I knew I could win and I wanted to win very badly."