Snead takes share of lead with 64

After playing four hours of brilliant golf, J.C. Snead found himself in a bunker on the 18th hole after his caddy miscalculated the distance from the fairway to the pin.

Undaunted, Snead chipped in from 20 feet for a birdie, concluding an afternoon in which virtually everything went his way.

Snead shot a course record 8-under-par 64 Saturday, making an eagle and seven birdies to come from behind and tie Rodger Davis for the lead after two rounds of the Greater Baltimore Classic.

``That was fun. I kept the ball in play all day and didn't get in any trouble,'' said the 61-year-old Snead, who started the round four shots back.

Vying for his first win on the senior tour since 1995, Snead enjoyed his lowest round in six years and set a course record at 6-year-old Hayfields Country Club.

His 133-yard shot to the hole with an 8-iron for an eagle on 12 was important, but Snead's showing on 18 after an error by his caddy was more indicative of his memorable day.

``My caddy told me my third shot was 102 yards; it was really 84. I ended up hitting it into the back bunker,'' Snead said. ``But I escaped.''

Overconfidence will not be a factor Sunday, when Snead sets out to claim the $217,500 top prize.

``At this stage of the game, the wheels can fly off at any minute,'' he said. ``When you haven't played very well for a while, it's not easy.''

The final threesome will include Davis, who shot a 68 for an 11-under 133 total, and John Mahaffey, whose bogey on 18 left him one shot behind the co-leaders.

Davis made five birdies, but was annoyed at the ones he let get away.

``If anything, I'm a little bit disappointed. I missed three putts of about three feet,'' said Davis, an Australian whose last win on American soil was in the 1986 NEC World Series of Golf.

Mahaffey, who began the round in a first-place tie with Davis and Jim Ahern, shot a 69. Ahern shot 71 for a 136 and was tied with John Jacobs for fourth place.

Snead wasted no time beginning his climb up the leaderboard, getting birdies on each of the first four holes to go 7-under. After six straight pars, he birdied No. 11. Snead then eagled 12, sending the ball from the fairway to the hole with one wave of his 8-iron.

He fell back to 9-under with a bogey on 15, but rebounded with birdies on 16 and 18.

The 64 tied the tournament record set by Jose Maria Canizares in 2000.

Regardless of how he fares Sunday, Snead already is assured $39,000 for winning the Super Seniors portion of the tournament (best two-round score by a player at least 60 years of age).

``That was some round by J.C.,'' Davis said. ``Doesn't he realize he's a Super?''

After making three birdies on the front nine, Davis got his only bogey of the day by three-putting from 15 feet on No. 11. But he rebounded with birdies on 14 and 16.

``All in all, I hit the ball pretty solid again,'' he said. ``I'm feeling pretty relaxed on this course. It's a course I think I can win on.''

Mahaffey was tied for the lead until he got to 18, where he sent his approach over the green. But he was thankful to be in contention.

``It's nice to shoot a 69 and feel that you played not that great,'' he said. ``I was just a little off today, but I'm encouraged where I'm at.''

Bruce Fleisher shot a 70 to finish in a tie with Doug Tewell and Bobby Walzel at 137, four shots behind the leaders.

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