Tuesday, April 18, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.
A year-by-year look at the previous 14 Las Vegas Senior Classics:
1986
Bob Charles grabbed the first-round lead by firing a 6-under-par 66 at the Desert Inn Country Club. Dale Douglass was two shots off the pace after 18 holes while Lee Elder, Jack Fleck, Miller Barber and Joe Jimenez were three shots back.
Don January came on in the second round with a 7-under 65 for a two-round total of 136 and a one-shot lead over Charles. Bruce Crampton was all alone in third place, two shots behind January.
Crampton's final-round 4-under 68 was enough to pass January, who closed with a 74, and Charles, who finished with a 72, and capture the inaugural Las Vegas Senior Classic. Crampton's three-day total of 10-under-par 206 gave him a two-shot victory over Douglass, who closed with a 69, and the $37,500 first-place check.
1987
For the second year in a row, Bob Charles took the first-round lead with a 5-under-par 67 at the Desert Inn. Charles held a one-shot lead over Al Geiberger while Arnold Palmer, Bobby Nichols and Orville Moody trailed by two shots.
Charles added to his lead with a 3-under 69 for a 36-hole total of 136 and a three-shot lead over Charles Coody, who carded a second-round 68.
Geiberger was the class of the field in the final round, shooting a tournament-record 10-under-par 62 and posting a four-shot win over Chi Chi Rodriguez, who closed with a 66 to take second place. Geiberger earned $37,500 for the win.
1988
Bob Charles once again was atop the leader board after the first round with a 5-under 67 in the newly-named General Tire Las Vegas Classic at the Desert Inn. Five players -- Dave Hill, Jim Feree, Bobby Nichols, Orville Moody and Larry Mowry -- were tied for second, one shot behind Charles.
Mowry fired a 7-under-par 67 to move into a share of the lead with Charles after 36 holes at 11-under 133. Moody and Dave Hill were three shots back.
Mowry shot a final-round 71 and posted a two-shot victory when Charles posted a 1-over 73 on Sunday. Mowry earned $37,500.
1989
Gene Littler opened with a 6-under-par 66 and held a one-shot lead over George Archer at the Desert Inn. Al Geiberger and Lee Elder were three shots off the pace after 18 holes.
Coody shot a 3-under 69 for the 36-hole lead with a total of 136. Geiberger and Tom Shaw trailed Coody by one stroke and Bob Charles was two shots off the pace at 138.
Coody carded a final-round 69, Charles shot 67 and Chi Chi Rodriguez closed with a 66 to finish at 11-under 205 and force the first playoff in the tournament's history. Coody won the playoff and the $45,000 first prize by making a birdie putt on the second extra hole.
1990
The tournament once again became the Las Vegas Senior Classic and the purse was bumped up from $300,000 to $450,000, but Bob Charles once again found himself atop the leaderboard after the first round. Charles shot an opening-round 67 at the Desert Inn to share the lead with Charles Coody and Lee Trevino while Chic Chi Rodriguez and Tom Shaw were one shot back.
Rodriguez (67) and George Archer (66) shared the second-round lead at 9-under-par 135 and Mike Hill was two shots back at 137.
Rodriguez finished with a 69 while Archer slipped to 70, giving Rodriguez a one-shot victory and the $67,500 first-place check.
1991
Bruce Crampton and Ken Still opened with 5-under-par 67s and led Jim Colbert and Rocky Thompson by one shot at the Desert Inn. Walter Zembriski and Gary Player trailed by two shots.
Player moved to 7-under 137 after 36 holes with a 4-under 68 and led Bob Charles, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Crampton by one stroke. Gene Littler and Zembriski were two shots off the pace going into the final round.
Rodriguez turned in the lowest final-round score of the day, a 6-under 66, and posted a three-shot victory over Zembriski, who closed with a 68. Rodriguez earned $67,500 for the victory.
1992
Larry Laoretti, Butch Baird and Jimmy Powell shared the lead after opening with 4-under 68s at the D.I. Dale Douglass, Jim Albus, Jim Colbert, Simon Hobday and Rocky Thompson trailed by two shots.
Orville Moody fired a 6-under 66 and Lee Trevino posted a 4-under 68 to share the lead after 36 holes with 5-under 139 totals. Homero Blancas, Dale Douglass and Laoretti trailed by two strokes.
Trevino carded a 5-under 67 and posted a one-shot victory over Moody, who closed with a 68. Trevino earned $67,500.
1993
Kermit Zarley equaled the D.I. course record with a 10-under-par 62 and led Rocky Thompson by four strokes.
Gibby Gilbert fired a 9-under 63 to grab the second-round lead and tie the 36-hole tournament record at 11-under-par 133. Tom Wargo and Zarley trailed by three shots.
Gilbert shot a final-round 71 and held off late charges by Hill (68) to post a one-stroke victory and claim the $105,000 first prize.
1994
Larry Gilbert and Kermit Zarley opened with 6-under-par 66s and led Raymond Floyd, George Archer and Jack Kiefer by two shots in the tournament's first year at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin.
Jim Dent stormed into the lead with a 6-under 66 for a 36-hole total of 8-under 136. Archer added a 69 and was one shot back at 137. Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tom Wargo, Keifer, Floyd and Zarley were all two shots back at 138.
Floyd captured his first Las Vegas Senior Classic title by firing a final-round 7-under 65 and posting a three-shot victory over Wargo. Floyd took home $135,000 for the win.
1995
Las Vegas resident Jim Colbert opened with a 7-under-par 65 to lead Jerry McGee, Bob Murphy and Raymond Floyd by one stroke at the TPC at Summerlin.
Rocky Thompson fired a 65 for a 9-under 135 total and the second-round lead. Colbert (71) and Floyd (70) trailed Thompson by one stroke.
Colbert shot a final-round 69 to take a two-shot victory over Jim Dent, Thompson and Floyd. Colbert earned $150,000 for the win.
1996
Jim Colbert fired a tournament course-record 9-under 63 and held a two-stroke lead over Bob Charles and Tommy Aaron after 18 holes at the TPC at Summerlin.
After Colbert struggled to a 2-over 74 on Saturday, Charles and Aaron were deadlocked a 9-under 135 after 36 holes. Following a second consecutive 68, Hale Irwin trailed by one stroke and Colbert was two shots back at 137.
Colbert battled strong winds Sunday and shot a final-round 70 and finished tied with Charles and Dave Stockton after 54 holes at 207. Colbert won the longest playoff in Las Vegas Senior Classic history with a par on the fourth extra hole and pocketed the $150,000 first-place check.
1997
Gil Morgan and Isao Aoki shot matching 66s and enjoyed a four-shot lead after the first round at the Tournament Players Club at The Canyons. Five other players were four shots back at 70.
Hale Irwin posted a course-record 65 on Saturday and held the second-round lead at 7-under 135. John Jacobs and Aoki were two shots back at 137.
Irwin battled strong winds and an inconsistent putter on Sunday, but managed to sink a birdie on the 54th hole for an even-par 72 to beat Aoki by one shot. Irwin earned $150,000 for the win.
1998
Dale Douglass shot a 6-under-par 66 and took a two-shot lead over Hugh Baiocchi after the first round. Defending champion Hale Irwin, Bob Eastwood and Vicente Fernandez were tied for third at 69.
Irwin made his charge toward his second consecutive Las Vegas Senior Classic on Friday by firing a 5-under 67. His two-round score of 7-under-par 136 was good enough for a one-shot lead over local favorite Jim Colbert and Buzz Thomas.
Irwin overcame strong winds Saturday, posting a 70 at the TPC at Summerlin and taking a six-shot lead over Douglass and Jose Maria Canizares into Sunday's final round.
Irwin managed only one birdie in posting a final-round 75, but never relinquished his lead and held on for a one-shot victory over Fernandez, becoming the third player to repeat as champion of the Las Vegas Senior Classic.
1999
Isao Aoki fired a 7-under-par 65 for a one shot-lead over Dave Stockton after the first round. Leonard Thompson, Mike McCullough and Dave DeWhitt tied for third at 4-under-par.
Eventual champion Vicente Fernandez finished one stroke back of leader Fred Gibson, who shot a 6-under-par 66 for a total of 9-under-par 206 on Saturday. Fernandez's 67 put him in a three-way tie with Conner and Dave Eichelberger.
After finishing second the year before, Fernandez emerged victorious when his eagle on the 16th hole sealed a two-stroke victory over Eichelberger and ended Fernandez's streak of 20 months without a win.
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