GOLF ROUNDUP : Coody Close to First Senior Win

Charles Coody, a non-winner in his third year on the Senior PGA Tour, shot a three-under-par 69 Saturday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds in the Las Vegas tournament.

Coody birdied three holes on the back nine of the Desert Inn Country Club, including two in a row on putts of 12 and 20 feet. His 36-hole total of 136 left him ahead of Al Geiberger and Senior rookie Tom Shaw.

“It was pretty solid, although I didn’t feel in control of my game as well as I was yesterday,” Coody said after starting the day a stroke behind first-round leader Gene Littler.

Several players remained in contention for top prize money of $45,000 in the $300,000 tournament. Geiberger and Shaw were at 137, and Bob Charles was at 138. Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Elder and Dave Hill were at 139.

Littler, who won three Tournament of Champion events on this course in the mid-1950s, followed his first-round 66 with a 74 and was four shots back at 140.

Coody bogeyed just one hole, the par-4 sixth, when he pulled a 9-iron into a greenside bunker and missed a 20-footer for par.

Geiberger, who shot the course record in winning the 1987 tournament with a closing 62, had a three-putt bogey at No. 3, but he birdied five holes, including two par-5s, to move into contention for his third victory of the season.

“I started out kind of funny, but I settled down and played pretty consistent, although I passed up a lot of chances for a really good score,” he said. “I had a little trouble concentrating in the beginning.”

Shaw, seeking his first Senior Tour victory, also bogeyed one hole, the par-4 third, where he buried his approach in a bunker. But he birdied five holes after that to move into contention with a 67.

“It’s just a matter now of going out and being aggressive,” Shaw said. “You have to start fast and get as many birdies as you can because you can’t go out there on the final day and try to par these guys to death.”

Peter Jacobsen birdied the third playoff hole to win the $650,000 Kapalua International in Hawaii for his first victory in five years.

Jacobsen beat former UCLA star Steve Pate for his third victory since joining the PGA Tour in 1977 but his first since 1984. Jacobsen shot a closing round six-under-par 66 over the Bay Course, including a birdie on No. 18 that gave him a share of the lead with Pate, who closed with a 67. Both finished the regulation 72 holes at 18-under 270.

Jacobsen trailed Pate by two shots with nine holes to play, but he birdied four of the last six holes, including a 15-footer at No. 18 to tie.

The playoff started at the 16th hole, where both parred. At No. 17, Jacobsen stayed alive by saving par from 10 feet.

Again, Jacobsen birdied, this one from a foot after Pate three-putted for a bogey.

“Coming from behind on the back nine with a birdie at the 18th to tie means a lot to me,” Jacobsen said. “I’ll admit it’s not an official win and the tour does not count it as official winnings. But it’s always nice to beat your fellow competitors.”

Nick Price was alone in third place at 272 after a final round of 65, the day’s best.

Wrenn struggled to an even-par 72 and finished four shots back at 274 along with was Donnie Hammond, the first- and second-round leader who closed with a 70.