Thursday, October 21, 1999

Fleisher tops
elite field for
Kaanapali Classic

Most of the top 20 Senior
PGA Tour money winners are playing

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

Fourteen of this year's top 20 Senior PGA Tour money winners are in the 54-hole EMC Kaanapali Classic beginning tomorrow at the Kaanapali North Course on Maui.

That he's the leading money winner of them all right now and threatening to end Hale Irwin's two-year domination surprises even Bruce Fleisher, who has virtually clinched rookie-of-the-year honors with three tournaments to go.

"It's been a long year, a joyous year, all in one. I've been blessed," said Fleisher. "I didn't know what to expect."

And nobody knew what to expect of Fleisher, who had won only one tournament in an otherwise so-so career on the PGA Tour.

"I always knew I could play, but finishing second in the qualifying school was a big lift," he said.

A bigger lift was becoming the first player to win tournaments in his first two starts, after being only the fifth to win a Senior Tour debut.

With six victories and $2,138,005 already in the bank, Fleisher can become the first rookie since Lee Trevino in 1990 to win the money title.

As for his money battle with Irwin - Fleisher leads by $216,183 - the one-time U.S. Amateur champion (1968) says he's "fighting for it" and that's the only goal he has left to accomplish.

"If I don't do it, it has still been a hell of a year," Fleisher said.

All three rounds of the event will be televised live nationally on ESPN with Sunday's round starting at 11 a.m., Hawaii time.