Morgan Defends Title With Steady Approach

Gil Morgan had a simple plan heading into the final round of the Instinet Classic: Play steady golf and let the rest of the field try to catch up.

Morgan worked the plan to perfection on Sunday, surviving challenges from J.C. Snead and Tom Jenkins to win his second consecutive Instinet Classic at the TPC at Jasna Polana in Princeton.

Morgan finished with a three-round total of 15-under 201 for his second victory of the year. He won the ACE Group Classic in February.

“My game plan was to not make any bogeys,” Morgan said. “I thought if I could do that, I could probably make three or four birdies. If I could do that, someone would have to come a long way, especially if they weren’t one of those first guys behind me. But J.C. got close to doing that.”

Snead fired a 65 and Jenkins had 67 in the final round. Each finished at 13-under 203.

Morgan earned $225,000 for his 20th Senior PGA Tour victory. He won last year’s Instinet with a record total of 199.

Morgan followed up his course-record 63 Friday with a 69 Saturday for a tournament record 36-hole total of 132. He entered the final round with a three-stroke lead over four golfers, including Jenkins.

After a four-hour rain delay at the start of the final round, Morgan birdied Nos. 6 and 12. Morgan fell into a tie with Snead after a bogey on No. 15, but regained the lead with a birdie on the 16th hole and closed out the victory with another birdie on No. 18.

“I was really dejected and upset with myself when I came off of 15,” Morgan said. “I felt like 16 and 18 were the best two holes I could birdie on. So I tried to hit a really good drive [on 16].”

Morgan got a break on the sixth hole when his approach shot bounced on the cart path, hit a spectator and rolled within 15 feet of the cup.

He made the putt for his only birdie on the front nine.