NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Tim Jackson shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday in the U.S. Senior Amateur to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of stroke-play qualifying.
The 55-year-old Jackson, from Germantown, Tennessee, had seven birdies and a bogey at Big Canyon. The two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion is making his first start in the event for players 55 and older.
“I am going to put in a practice session (Saturday afternoon) and see how I play (on Sunday),” Jackson said. “If it works I am going to come out and be aggressive and see how low I can score instead of just gliding through.”
The top 64 after the second round of qualifying will advance to match play.
Chip Lutz of Reading, Pennsylvania; James Gallagher of Yorktown, Virginia; Bob Baker of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Scott Mayne of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, were tied for second.
“This is all about getting to match play,” Lutz said. “My first concern is to do well enough to do that. … I am really trying to get through this piece (of the competition) and get through to match play and hope that I am seeded well.”
Seventy-one-year-old Vinny Giles of Richmond, Virginia, the 1972 U.S. Amateur champion and 2009 Senior Amateur champion, shot his age. Defending champion Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Georgia, had a 72.
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