Disaster on front nine for Canizares
Senior PGA Tour: KAANAPALI, Hawaii (Oct. 22) -- Hale Irwin's love affair with Hawaii continues.
Not that he's done badly in other places on the PGA and Senior PGA Tours, but the islands, Maui in particular, seems to spur him to a higher level.
Irwin added another Kaanapali Classic trophy to his collection Sunday, shooting a 6-under 65 on Sunday for a four-stroke victory over Joe Inman.
The three-time U.S. Open champion has four victories this season and 29 in six seasons on the Senior PGA Tour, tying Lee Trevino for the tour record.
Jim Thorpe, who was seeking his third straight victory, Allen Doyle and Howard Twitty tied for third at 203, and Gary McCord was another stroke back along with Bruce Summerhays, Walter Hall, Stewart Ginn and Graham Marsh.
Jose Marie Canizares, who shot a 61 on Saturday to take a four-stroke lead, had a 76 to tie for 11th at 205
Irwin has won the Hawaiian Open on the PGA Tour and, as a member of the 50-and-over gang, has captured the Kaanapali Seniors twice, the MasterCard Championship and the Senior Skins.
It didn't appear Irwin had much of a chance going into the final round. But Irwin, with a lot of help from Canizares, quickly moved into the lead and steadily pulled away from the field on a perfect day at the Kaanapali North Course.
In picking up his fourth victory in 22 events on the this year, Irwin had a 15-under 198 total. He also passed the $2 million mark for the fourth consecutive year at $2.09 million.
Inman extended his bogey-free play to 91 holes, six short of the record held by the late Jack Kiefer. Inman followed rounds of 67 and 68 with a 67.
Thorpe made a big move early in the final round, making the turn in 5-under 30. But he bogeyed the 16th and had a double-bogey on the 430-yard closing hole for a 67.
Canizares, who held a seemingly comfortable four-stroke lead heading into the final day, quickly fell behind Irwin.
The Spaniard, in the same threesome with Irvin and Doyle, started bogey-bogey-birdie and then had a triple-bogey 7 on the 460-yard fourth.
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