Gilder Has Lead at Fleetboston

Sportsticker

  
 
   

CONCORD, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Bob Gilder holds a one-stroke lead entering Sunday's final round of the FleetBoston Classic.

Coming off a playoff victory, Gilder shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday to move to 11-under 133 for the tournament. Jim Thorpe birdied four of his last five holes to complete a 65 and is alone at 10-under.

Gilder, who posted his third career Senior PGA Tour victory at last week's SBC Senior Open by beating Hale Irwin on the first sudden-death hole, was more than willing to spar verbally with Thorpe.

Trying to join Chi Chi Rodriguez as the only golfers to win this tournament three straight times, Larry Nelson carded a 73 and is seven strokes behind Gilder.

Nelson won a season-high five times in 2001 but has yet to break through this year. However, he has been been very successful at the Nashawtuc Country Club, winning here in each of the last two seasons. Nelson's best finish this season is second at the TD Waterhouse Championship in May.

Ted Goin and Dave Eichelberger are tied for third at 9-under after signing for a 66 and 68, respectively.

Gilder could have had a bigger lead, but he three-putted the 521-yard 18th hole from 40 feet.

Ten players are within five shots of the lead. Jim Dent matched Thorpe's 65 and is at 8-under.

Allen Doyle, Tom Jenkins, Jack Spradlin and Wayne Levi are 7-under and Tom Kite and John Mahaffey are tied at 138.

Sixth on the money list with just under $1.1 million, Gilder birdied four of the first nine holes, sinking putts ranging from 12 to 20 feet. His final birdie was an 18-footer at the par-3 17th.

Thorpe's final birdie on the 18th came after he blasted his third shot out of the bunker and within two feet of the cup.

Irwin shot his second straight 71 and has posted 23 consecutive rounds of par or better here. He won this title in 1997 and 1998 and was second in 1995 and 1999.

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