Gold Rush Classic breakdown



By Greg Robertson
ESPN Golf Online
Sunday, October 15

Details
When Friday-Sunday
Course Serrano Country Club, El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Par/Yardage Par 72; 6,795 yards
Purse $1.1 million (Winner: $165,000)
1999 champion David Graham
Tournament record 17-under 199 (David Graham, 1999)
Television None

The tournament
  Hole by hole
  Hole Par Yards
  1 4 412
  2 4 379
  3 4 418
  4 3 159
  5 4 429
  6 5 551
  7 3 157
  8 5 523
  9 4 400
  Out 36 3428
  10 4 370
  11 3 173
  12 4 388
  13 5 510
  14 5 518
  15 3 205
  16 5 567
  17 3 176
  18 4 460
  In 36 3367
  Total 72 6795
The Senior Tour continues its final West Coast swing of the season this week, moving about 100 miles northeast this week after a stop in Napa, Calif., to the suburbs of Sacramento.

The Gold Rush Classic is one of three remaining full-field events on the Senior Tour schedule, and Larry Nelson and Gil Morgan top the field as they try to continue their torrid play of recent weeks.

Nelson has won four of this last five starts to move to the top of the money list and the driver's seat for player of the year. With three regular events plus the Tour Championship remaining on the schedule, Nelson has set his sights on becoming the first $3 million player on the Senior Tour.

He brings a Senior Tour record of 29 consecutive rounds at par or better into the Gold Rush Classic. And he's bound to extend his lead on the money list, with No. 2 Bruce Fleisher and No. 3 Hale Irwin taking the week off.

Morgan brings his own streak into the tournament, having played a record 27 conseuctive rounds under par. His last effort over par was the final round of the U.S. Senior Open in early July, when he shot a 1-over 72.

During his streak, Morgan has won twice, finished second three times and fourth twice. He is fourth on the money list, but approximately $800,000 behind Nelson.

Other players to keep an eye on at this tournament include ironman Dana Quigley, who won here in 1998 and is fifth on the money list; Jim Thorpe, who finally broke through with his first Senior Tour win last week in Napa; and George Archer, a three-time Gold Rush Classic winner.

Many of the players in the field are fighting to reach the top 31 on the money list to earn a trip to the Senior Tour Championship in November and full-exempt status for 2001. Graham Marsh is the man on the bubble, but Lee Trevino and Gary McCord are right on his tail.

Defending champion David Graham is No. 41 on the list, and he'll be hoping to find some of his magic from last year. Graham set a course record with a 63 on Friday, but he saw his lead disappear on Saturday.

On Sunday, Graham made four straight birdies on the front side to get back his lead, holding on for a four-shot victory over Larry Mowry.

Serrano Country Club will be a difficult challenge for the seniors. Already longer than its 6,795-yard measurement because of numerous elevation changes, several days of rain have taken the roll out of the fairways. That can only help the big hitters like Morgan.

Next week, the Senior Tour heads to Hawaii for the Kaanapali Classic, followed by a trip to Los Angeles for the Pacific Bell Senior Classic.
ALSO SEE
Thorpe strikes Gold for second straight week

Thorpe's 62 just a 'perfect round of golf'

Sizzling Morgan has company at Gold Rush

Kite trying for late-season Rush

Gold Rush Classic field

1999 Gold Rush Classic results

Gold Rush Classic past champions

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