McCord a Senior Winner

Gary McCord, CBS Sports’ irreverent analyst, again played the role he loves the most Sunday--golf champion.

McCord joked and hacked his way around the Dunes Golf & Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C., during the first two rounds, but capped a wonderful weekend comeback on the course where he earned his PGA Tour card in 1974 with a one-stroke victory at the Senior Tour Championship.

As he held the trophy up at the 18th green, it was easy to see where the victory ranks with all his fame as an analyst, author and golf’s wacky creative conscience.

“This is at the top of the pyramid,” said McCord, who shot a 67 and finished at 12-under 276. “Everything else is below it.”

McCord had the tournament’s low round with a 64 on Saturday and tracked money champion Bruce Fleisher for most of the final 18 on Sunday. But Fleisher lost a one-stroke lead by missing two short par putts--the kind he had easily canned all season--on the 16th and 17th holes.

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Maria Hjorth of Sweden recorded a five-stroke victory in the $800,000 Mizuna Classic, a U.S. LPGA event held in Otsu, Japan.

Hjorth, who had a five-under-par 67 in the final round, finished the three rounds at 15-under 201.

Tied for second at 10-under 206 were Laura Davies and three standouts from the Japan LPGA--leading money-winner Fumiko Muraguchi, Aki Nakano and South Korean Ku Ok-hee.

Hjorth got the victory with mostly borrowed clubs. Hers were initially lost en route to Japan.