CONCORD, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- After winning a season-high five times in 2001, Larry Nelson hasn't recorded a victory this year. But the FleetBoston Classic would be a fitting event for Nelson to get back on the winning track.

Nelson has won back-to-back titles at the $1.5 million event, which begins Friday at the Nashawtuc Country Club. Last year, a flying bird played a major role in the first successful title defense of Nelson's 27-year career.

Nelson held a one-stroke lead over Tom Kite in the final round when Kite's par-3 17th tee shot dropped suddenly halfway to the hole. The ball had hit a blue martin that was flying by, fell into the pond and Kite made a double bogey. The bird died and Kite's challenge ended there as well.

Nelson's best finish this season is second at the TD Waterhouse Championship in May.

Kite has won two tournaments this year and is third overall on the money list.

Bob Gilder beat Hale Irwin in a playoff in last week's SBC Senior Open in Chicago. Irwin rallied from a six-stroke deficit with a 7-under-65 in the final round, but faltered in the playoff.

Irwin was denied his 35th Senior Tour title, but extended his lead in the Charles Schwab Cup race. The 57-year-old Irwin has 14 top-10 finishes in 16 starts this year.

Gilder's victory moved him from 12th overall in the race to sixth.

The second-oldest official 54-hole tournament on the Senior Tour, the FleetBoston Classic has had its share of repeat winners.

Chi Chi Rodriguez made Senior Tour history by becoming the first player to capture the same event three straight times when he won at Nashawtuc from 1986-88.

Don January was the first to win back-to-back events in the Boston area in 1984-85. Bob Charles (1989-90) and Irwin (1997-98) have also won consecutive events.