Geiberger Overtakes Hill, but It Doesn’t Count : Third-Round Leader Wins as Rain Washes Out the Final Day of Seniors Play

Dave Hill says he has never lost a tournament he led going into the final round.

That enviable record was in serious jeopardy Sunday until a “gully washer,” and then some, struck La Costa and forced the cancellation of the fourth round of the MONY Tournament of Champions.

By the time they suspended play for the fourth and final time late Sunday afternoon, Al Geiberger had overtaken Hill and assumed a one-stroke lead in the Senior Division of the tournament.

By PGA rules, it becomes a 54-hole tournament and Hill, leading by a stroke after Saturday’s round, wins top prize of $30,000, while Geiberger gets only $14,000 and ties Miller Barber for second place. Hill, who wins an automatic return to the T of C, finished with a 211, Geiberger and Barber were at 212.

Barber, more than any other player, probably influenced the final suspension of play. When play was ordered resumed after the third stoppage, Barber went on the intercom, called for Tour official Glenn Tait, and said, “Please stop play, I’ve seen people killed by falling limbs. It’s dangerous.”

Play was stopped shortly thereafter for the last time.

Obviously, Geiberger is not the type to complain.

He and Hill were scheduled to tee off together at 10 a.m. It was 1 p.m. when they started. Geiberger took the lead when he sank an 18-foot birdie putt on nine. They were just starting 10 when it ended.

“Of course, I’m disappointed, but nothing can be done about it,” the youngest player on the 50-and-over tour said. “I think trying to run two tournaments together added to the problems.

“I understand that it is a rule that the Seniors don’t play on Monday. I don’t really know because, after all, I’m just a rookie. All 12 seniors had completed the front nine. Maybe there’s something about that in the rule book, but I don’t think so.

“I was leading, but you don’t know what could have happened.”

Hill, who won 13 tournaments on the regular tour, has now won two on the Senior Tour. Asked if he was sorry play was stopped, he answered, “I really wanted to finish, and you believe that and I have something to sell you.

“I’m really excited about winning our first event. It means I’ll be back here. I’ll take a win any way I can get it.

“It was getting monotonous hearing that siren blow all those times. I was running my legs off up the hill to the clubhouse. And the outdoor bars were all closed. Three times should be out.”

When he learned Saturday that the forecast for Sunday was for rain, Hill, who has been battling a problem with his right elbow, said he didn’t care if there was a gully washer Sunday.

But, after the fourth round was canceled, he said he was prepared to come back today and play the round over. “I was ready to play tomorrow or any other time,” he said. “I don’t have to tee it up again until Feb. 11.”

Hill will return to his home in Jackson, Mich., and have X-rays taken of the elbow. It has been diagnosed as either a chipped bone or tendinitis.

He said he kept putting Butazolidin on the elbow, and it really didn’t hurt much the last two days. He was almost ready to quit after finishing 36 holes with a 140 total and a one-stroke lead.

A longtime friend, a PGA teaching professional named Chappy Chapman, brought him a bottle of Butazolidin early in Saturday’s round. Chapman, who influenced Hill to turn pro in 1958 in Michigan, assured him this was all he needed to win the tournament.

But Hill was struggling Sunday in the cold, rain and wind. He sent his drive on the first hole into the rough on the right. His follow-through on his second shot was restricted. He put the ball into the trap in front of the green, blasted out and sank a five-footer for his par.

Geiberger moved into a tie for the lead on the par-5 second hole. He hit a wedge over the flag just two feet from the cup and made his birdie. But Geiberger three-putted the sixth to fall behind again.

Hill hit another poor drive on No. 8, and the bogey left them even again. Geiberger’s long birdie putt was the final gasp before the weather ended his victory hopes.

“Al really was playing well,” Hill said. “Under the conditions, a 35 on the front side was great golf.”