Senior Classic: Win was bit of revenge for Fernanadez

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

Vicente Fernandez avenged his second-place finish in last year's Las Vegas Senior Classic by capturing the $1.4 million tournament Sunday at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.

A year ago, Fernandez entered the final round trailing eventual winner Hale Irwin by eight shots. Fernandez battled through gusting winds and posted a remarkable 4-under-par 68.

Despite Irwin's closing 3-over 75, Fernandez still fell a stroke short in his bid to claim his third Senior PGA Tour title.

"Last year, that (last) day, you didn't need to do much wrong to shoot what (Irwin) shot because it was a very tough day," Fernandez said. "I was going well and he wasn't doing so well, but he had all the pressure.

"He went in eight shots ahead and everybody said, 'Well, he already won the tournament.' No, it's more pressure having the lead in those conditions."

This year, Fernandez went into the final round trailing third-round leader Fred Gibson by only one shot. Gibson struggled to a 75 -- as Irwin did a year ago -- but this time, Fernandez made the most of his opportunity.

* TPC CANYONS OUT?: Most of the Senior PGA Tour players have been grousing about the TPC at The Canyons layout since it became a Las Vegas Senior Classic venue in 1997.

The rumor Sunday was that the course will be dropped from the two-course rotation next year, and all four rounds will be played at the TPC at Summerlin.

Senior Classic director Charlie Baron said he has heard no official word from the Senior PGA Tour that such a move will be made. But Dave Eichelberger doesn't see what all the fuss is about.

"Hey, everybody has to play the same course," Eichelberger said. "If you don't like it, don't come; if you're there, just do the best you can and go on."

Eichelberger said he didn't buy into the rumor that many of the Senior Tour regulars said they would skip Las Vegas next year if The Canyons was in the rotation.

"If I didn't play everywhere I said I was never going to play, I wouldn't be playing anywhere," he said.

* BY THE NUMBERS: Fernandez became the 11th different winner of the Las Vegas Senior Classic and became the eighth different winner on the Senior Tour this year. ... Fernandez ran his season earnings to $735,638 and remains fourth on the money list. ... The $210,000 payday was the largest of his professional career. ... Fernandez earned only $13,986 during his career on the PGA Tour.

* NO HANDICAP: Fernandez, who was born with one leg (his left) shorter than the other, said the affliction never has bothered him on the golf course.

"I didn't realize I was handicapped until I was 16," Fernandez said.

Fernandez wears a lift in his left shoe to overcome the difference.

* GIBSON'S FALL: Third-round leader Fred Gibson wasted little time in shooting himself out of contention for the Senior Classic title.

Gibson bogeyed three of the first six holes he played Sunday, then made a double-bogey seven on the par-5 ninth hole. Gibson regained control on the back nine, parring the first five holes before running off three straight birdies.

His bogey-5 on the closing hole, however, cost him a share of seventh place. Gibson finished with a 75 and in sole possession of eighth place.

* LOCAL FLAVOR: Boulder City resident Bud Allin closed with a 2-over 74 Sunday and finished tied for 22nd place at 1-over 288. Allin earned $15,085 -- his second highest payday of the year after the $24,683 he pocketed for his 11th-place tie in the season-opening MasterCard Championship.

Jim Colbert of Las Vegas shot a 1-under 71 Sunday and tied for 52nd place at 8-over 295 and earned $3,388. Colbert has finished 19th or worse in each of his past eight starts after tying for second in the MasterCard Championship to open the season.

* MR. CONSISTENCY: Although he still is searching for his first Senior PGA Tour win, John Mahaffey continues to be one of the most consistent golfers on the Senior circuit.

Mahaffey, who was winless in 23 events last year in his rookie season, has six top-10 finishes in his past 10 starts. The 51-year-old Mahaffey shot a final-round 67 Sunday and finished third, earning $100,800 and pushing his season earnings to $333,237.