Irwin Shoots a 67 to Win Senior Open

Hale Irwin shot a five-under 67 Sunday to win his second consecutive Ameritech Senior Open title and third in five years.

Bruce Fleisher, the Senior PGA Tour money leader, saw his chances for victory drown with a water ball on No. 16, and Irwin went on to a one-stroke victory at Long Grove, Ill.

Irwin shot a 10-under 206. It was his fourth victory this season, and second in three tournaments.

Even after Fleisher’s water shot, Irwin’s victory still wasn’t secure. Raymond Floyd had a 45-foot birdie putt on 18 that would have tied Irwin and forced a playoff, and he narrowly missed it.

Fleisher and Floyd both finished at nine-under 207, tied with CBS golf analyst Gary McCord. McCord had the best round of the day, a seven-under 65.

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In near darkness, Sherri Steinhauer won a five-hole playoff to win the LPGA’s JAL Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

Steinhauer birdied the 18th hole to force the playoff with Lorie Kane, then made a 25-foot birdie putt on the same green to finally end the tournament.

The two players had previously played the par-five 18th four times, parring every time, though Kane had birdie putts rim the cup on the third and fourth playoff holes.

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John Pate, a 39-year-old stockbroker from Santa Barbara and the older brother of PGA Tour player Steve Pate, made a birdie putt on the 18th hole at the Industry Hills Ike Course to win the Southern California Golf Assn. championship.

The putt gave Pate a one-shot victory over Scott McGhion of Bermuda Dunes, who held a two-shot lead with three holes to play.

“It’s especially satisfying when you’re as old as I am and haven’t ever won anything,” Pate said.