Inman leads by two

Two-time defending champion Joe Inman birdied three of the final four holes today to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the SBC Senior Classic.

Inman, who shot a 6-under-par 65, has two victories since joining the Senior PGA Tour two years ago, and both have come in this tournament.

"I just have to pinch myself all the time about playing out here and doing this,'' he said. "I felt comfortable playing out there all day."

Gary McCord, Gil Morgan, and Mike McCullough opened with 67s on the Wilshire Country Club course, and Tom Kite, Barry Jaeckel, and David Graham topped an eight-player group at 68.

Inman bogeyed the fourth hole, ending a streak of 94 holes without a bogey. He fell three short of the tour record of 97, set by the late Jack Kiefer in 1994.

"After the bogey at the fourth hole, I kept telling myself to stop thinking about not making bogey," Inman said. "It's hard not to think about bogeys, but I really felt free after I missed that par putt. To win you have to be not afraid to fail."

Inman, 52, is coming off a second-place finish in the EMC2 Kaanapali Classic, and has finished in the top 10 in 10 of 32 starts this year.

McCord had six birdies and two bogeys.

"My round was just OK,'' he said. "I've been on the road 29 straight weeks between playing and CBS."

In his final contract year as a color analyst with CBS, McCord said he's looking forward to 2001.

"I'm going to try and play 12 to 15 events next year,'' he said. "Trying to get back to Myrtle Beach has kept me out here and kept me focused.''

McCord is 32nd on the money list, but has to move up one notch in order to defend his title at the TPC of Myrtle Beach, where he posted his last senior tour victory. McCord trails Graham Marsh by $8,000 for the 31st spot.

Jaeckel, born two blocks from Wilshire Country Club, is playing the course for the first time in 30 years.

"I'm playing on a sponsor exemption,'' he said. "I'm a part-timer out here trying to be a full-timer. My dream circumstance is to play well here this week.''

McCullough birdied three of his final four holes to move within two shots of the lead.

Rain fell in the Los Angeles area Thursday night, presenting softer greens than usual.

The tournament finishes Sunday, with the winner earning $210,000.

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