Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 12, 1993 TAG: 9307120038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
\ Jim Gallagher Jr. took the long route Sunday to ending a frustrating string of second-place finishes.
"Slumps end, I guess. I didn't think they ever did," Gallagher said after winning the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic, his first PGA Tour victory in nearly three years.
Gallagher used an uncharacteristically long drive to set up a decisive eagle on No. 15, a hole that was chopped up by the rest of the contenders.
"It was probably the longest drive I've ever hit on that hole," the 10-year pro said.
Gallagher, four shots off the pace at the start of the day and playing six groups ahead of the leaders, closed with a 6-under-par 65. He finished four rounds on Kingsmill Golf Club's 6,797-yard layout at 15-under 269.
Two strokes back was Chip Beck, who shot a 3-under 68.
It was another shot back to Curtis Strange, Lanny Wadkins and Dave Rummels. Strange and Rummels closed with 68s, and Wadkins had a 70.
Dillard Pruitt, who began the day with a one-shot lead, had two birdies but bogeyed five holes, including the last three. Pruitt, who came into the tournament ranked 129th on the tour in final-round scoring, had a 3-over 74 and was in a large group at 274.
The victory was worth $198,000 to Gallagher, whose only other tour victory came in the 1990 Greater Milwaukee Open.
Since then, Gallagher has developed a reputation as a frequent contender often relegated to a runner-up role. Gallagher has five second-place finishes. In 1992, he led the tour with three second-place showings, including one in the Anheuser-Busch.
"I felt like I could have won five or six tournaments," he said. "You kind of don't doubt yourself, but you do wonder when it's going to happen again."
Gallagher avoided another runner-up finish by distinguishing himself on the 506-yard 15th hole, a straightaway par-5 that was the second-easiest on the course this week. The hole features a deep ravine in front of the green, but most of the pros are able to carry the trouble spot and get onto the green in two.
Gallagher did just that, beginning with a drive that went 311 yards - more than 44 yards beyond his 1993 average of a little less than 267.
"I killed my drive, absolutely murdered it," Gallagher said. "I had 195 yards left, which was 40 yards less than I had all week."
From there, Gallagher ripped a 5-iron to within 40 feet, and when he rolled in the eagle putt, it put him at 14 under and one shot ahead of his closest pursuers, all of whom had yet to play the 15th.
First up was Strange, who put his second shot into the ravine, blasted up over the green in three, chipped back on and one-putted for par.
Next was Wadkins, who chose to lay up in two and opt for a short chip. But he pulled his approach shot long and left, and after he chipped onto the green with his fourth shot, he sank a 20-footer to salvage a par.
The last with a chance was Beck, who elected to go for it in two but pushed his second shot right and into the woods at the bottom of the ravine. Beck blasted his third shot over the green, wedged it onto the putting surface and saved par with a 15-foot putt.
by CNB