1987 Florida Open - Innisbrook Golf Resort

Bruce Fleisher

^{St. Petersburg Times
July 28, 1987}

When play was suspended for more than an hour because of lightning Sunday, Bruce Fleisher looked troubled. And it had nothing to do with the threatening weather.

Fleisher was creating some thunder of his own, birdying three holes on the front nine in the final round of the Florida Open to catch tournament leader Steve Lowery. Despite the dangers, Fleisher didn't want to quit. He had too much momentum.

And when he finally returned to the Island course at Innisbrook, there was plenty of spark left in Fleisher's game. He went on to shoot a 6-under-par 66 to tie a course record and win the tournament by five shots.

"I don't play a lot of competitive golf anymore," said Fleisher, a former PGA Tour pro who is now the director of golf at the West View Golf Club in Miami. "I was not comfortable. I was comfortable with a four-shot lead, but you really have to play a lot of golf. Experience is important."

"When the day began, I really didn't think I could catch him (Lowery). He played so well yesterday and was hitting the ball well. But he didn't get it going today."

Fleisher's winning four-day total was 277, 10 under par, and was worth $8,000. Clearwater's Greg Kraft and Orlando's Lowery finished at 5-under 282. Both made $4,237.50,

Lakeland's Lee Janzen and Jay Overton, the director of golf at Innisbrook, were another shot back at 283. First-round leader Jeff Grygiel was at 286 and second-round leader Karl Kimball was at 288.

Fleisher, 38, made an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys for his 66. He missed a 2-foot par putt on the 18th hole that would have given him the course record. It was the eagle at the par 5 11th hole that sent him on his way.

"It really pumped me up," said Fleisher, who also won the Florida Open in 1980 and had a distinguished amateur career before playing on tour for 13 years. "I think No. 11 was the big turning point. I eagled and he (Lowery) parred."

Fleisher left the tour in 1983 for his club pro job in Miami but has continued to do well in the Florida Open. He tied for second last year and finished in the top 10 in 1985. He was one of only 12 club pros to make the cut this year.

Lowery began the day with a three-shot lead over Fleisher but could not sustain it. He birdied two holes on the front nine and also bogeyed two. When Fleisher eagled the 11th hole and Lowery couldn't convert a good birdie opportunity at No. 13, his chances evaporated.

"I actually played pretty close to my game plan. I just didn't make any putts," said Lowery, who had a 74 Sunday. "I got off to a good start. I just didn't make any putts later in the round."

Kraft began the round four shots behind Lowery and quickly fell six back with a birdie on No. 2. But he made three more birdies for a final-round 70 and lipped a 4-foot birdie putt at No. 18 that would have given him sole possession of second place.

"There was no catching Bruce," said Kraft, who was the only player to break par in all four rounds. "He was always in the fairway and he didn't miss any greens. By the time he got in any trouble, it was too late."