MILTON, Fla., April 20 (UPI) -- Bob Gilder birdied seven of the first 13 holes Sunday at The Moors Club and cruised to his first victory of the season at the Emerald Coast Classic.
Gilder began the day in a tie for the lead with Tom Watson, but he birdied the first three holes and had another run of three in a row on the back nine en route to a 7-under-par 63.
The 2001 Rookie of the Year, Gilder finished with a 54-hole total of 17-under 193, breaking Isao Aoki's tournament record by three strokes. Gilder played the last 24 holes in 11-under.
It was the seventh career win for Gilder, who used the Champions Tour's three-week break to rest his ailing back.
Larry Nelson, first-round co-leader Leonard Thompson and Vicente Fernandez of Argentina were a distant second at 13-under 197.
