Hill Falters, Recovers for Senior Victory

NAPLES, Fla. — Mike Hill lost his momentum, then he won the tournament.

Hill increased his six-stroke lead to eight before having to hold on for a two-stroke victory over Dave Stockton Sunday in the Senior Challenge championship.

“I’ve never had a six-stroke lead, so I didn’t know how to act with it . . . and it even got up to eight,” Hill said. “It’s almost like the ball starts snowballing, and you don’t know whether you’re able to stop it or not.

“I think the turning point came for me at 10, when I missed a three-foot putt. I think if I would’ve made that shot, I would’ve shot two or three under on the backside, instead of struggling after that.”

Hill finished with a two-under-par 70 for a 54-hole total of 14-under 202. Stockton had a 66, as did Bob Charles, who was third at 206.

Hill shot 32 on the front nine, extending the six-stroke lead he had after two rounds. He made an eagle on the par-five second hole and had birdies on the first and ninth holes. But some tentative play on the back nine yielded a 38.