Baltimore will always be a special place to Bob Gilder.
Gilder claimed the past two Constellation Energy Classics held at Hayfields Country Club in Hunt Valley. Now, he?s setting his sights on continuing his success just six miles away at the Baltimore Country Club?s East Course, where he wants to win his second career major at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship.
“I am excited, and Baltimore is a good place and I have good friends and always feel at home there,” Gilder, 56, said. “Maybe that?s what?s made me play well here.”
He will again try for a season-making win in Baltimore. Gilder has nine career Champions Tour victories ? highlighted by the Senior Tour Championship in 2001 ? but his last two wins have come in 2005 and 2006 at Hayfields. Gilder again finds himself looking for a marquee win late in the season that will help him to build on four top-10 and 13 top-25 finishes he has recorded this year.
“Most of the year it seems like I have got it going, but spun my wheels and gave some back, lots of 15-to-25 finsihes,” Gilder said. “I feel good, but haven?t been able to put it away. I?m not real hapy with the year so far.”
Gilder?s best finish was at the Boeing Championship in Sandestin, Fla., where he placed third at 16-under par, three strokes behind champion Loren Roberts. His said his formula for success this weekend centers on reading each hole, but right now, he?s worried about replacing his 3-wood. Gilder said his favorite club has a cracked head ? and it?s imperative he finds one to use at a course that rewards long drives.
“The key for me is my iron play right now,” Gilder, who ranks 47th on the tour in greens in regulation, said. “I?ve been struggling on it and I?ve been working on it and working hard.”
Consistent putting ? Gilder ranks 13th on the tour in birdie average ? wouldn?t hurt, either.
“I feel like I am a pretty good putter on tough greens and tough greens like this [at BCC] aparently nobody runs the tables on them,” Gilder said. “So if you are a good two-putter, and don?t three-putt much you are going to be succesful.”
