Gilbert, Snead win Demaret Division by five shots

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

J.C. Snead and Gibby Gilbert won the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on Tuesday.

Savannah, Ga. -- Gibby Gilbert and J.C. Snead fired a second-consecutive 10-under-par 62 to win the Demaret Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf by five strokes over the teams of Mike Hill and Lee Trevino and Jim Albus and Jim Dent. Their two-day, better-ball winning score of 20-under 124 is the lowest in the 18-year history of the Demaret Division competition, eclipsing the previous record of 19-under 125 set by Bob Charles and Gary Player in 2010. Gilbert and Snead earned $60,000 for the victory, splitting the $120,000 winner's share of the $553,000 purse.

Charles and Player, two-time defending champions of the Demaret Division, finished T4 with the team of Don Bies and Tom Shaw at 14-under.

Gilbert and Snead, who entered the day with a one-shot lead over Albus and Dent, were hoping for a quick start to Tuesday's final round and that's exactly what they got, carding four birdies in the first five holes for the second-consecutive day. Similar to Monday's first round, the pair posted nine birdies and an eagle with the only blemish coming in the form of a bogey on the last.

"We've been good friends since 1968 and we really know each others games," said Snead. "We're not going to get upset with each other and Gibby's always been so solid and it's fun to get together and play."

Gilbert believed Snead would have shot a 64 on his own ball Tuesday and credited a great day with the driver for his partner's good play.

"J.C. drove the ball beautifully both days," said Gilbert. "I don't think it's possible to drive it any better than he did today. Every hole was 300 yards right down the middle.

While his partner gave credit to the driver, Snead felt his putter was the key to the victory.

"This week was the best I've putted for as long as I can remember," added Snead. "Putting has always been the worst part of my game and I tried one little thing and it worked. I understand now why all of these good putters walk around smiling all the time."

Playing for the first time in the Demaret Division for players ages 70 and older, Gilbert and Snead's five-shot margin of victory equaled the second-largest in the event's history, trailing only Orville Moody and Jimmy Powell's seven-shot victory in 2005. Tuesday's victory added to an already impressive resume for Gilbert and Snead at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. In 10 career appearances in the Legends Division the pair finished runner-up in 1995 and T3 twice in 1997 and 1999.

The Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf continues with Pro-Am play Wednesday and Thursday. The 54-hole Legends Division, which awards official prize money and Charles Schwab Cup points, along with the 36-hole Raphael Division both begin Friday, April 22.