Jacobs leads after record round

Morris Hatalsky's single-round Senior PGA Tour record under the Modified Stableford scoring system lasted one day.

John Jacobs shattered the mark Saturday with 24 points, moving into a tie for the lead with Hatalsky after two rounds of the $1.5 million Uniting Fore Care Classic.

Jacobs ended a month-long slump with two eagles and two birdies, surging past 30 players to the top of the leaderboard. Had this been stroke play, he would have fired a 61, ending a streak of 11 consecutive rounds in the 70s.

"I thought about shooting 60 at the 15th hole," said Jacobs, who played in a group with golf legend Arnold Palmer. "If I play good, any format's good for me. It's a perfect course for this format."

Hatalsky collected 11 points with six birdies and a bogey and has 30 points with one round to play at the Park Meadows Country Club.

"It was a blah kind of a day from the standpoint of building any momentum," said the Senior Tour rookie, who closed with back-to-back birdies. "Finishing on a good note was good psychologically for me heading into tomorrow."

Tom Watson had another steady round with 12 points, giving him 26 through 36 holes. Don Pooley is nine points back after scoring 10 in the second round.

"Anyone within 10 points of the lead has a chance tomorrow," Jacobs predicted. "I hope I have a big lead at the end. It's going to be a heckuva shootout."

The Modified Stableford system is being used for the first time at one of the oldest events on the Senior Tour. Previously, it was employed at the Royal Caribbean Classic in 2000 and 2001.

The system awards eight points for a double-eagle, five for an eagle and two for a birdie. No points are given for a par, while one point is deducted for a bogey and three for a double-bogey or worse.

Jacobs has taken a liking to the system, although he did not think Saturday's round was special until he rolled in a 35-foot eagle putt at the long par-5 eighth hole.

"After the eighth hole, I told my caddie, `The game's on,'" said Jacobs, who has struggled since winning the rain-shortened Royal Caribbean Classic in February. "I always seem to have good rounds here but never seem to get the job done. This isn't like playing in a golf tournament, it's like old-home week."

Jacobs followed the eagle with an 18-foot putt at No. 9, giving him five birdies and 15 points on the front side. On the back, he had back-to-back birdies at Nos. 11 and 12 before making another eagle at the 521-yard 17th hole.

"It was fun," Jacobs said. "I knew I was putting good starting out. The altitude makes us feel like King Kong."

Hatalsky was the one atop the Empire State Building after Friday's opening round, but he got off his second round off to a slow start at just 1-under through 11 holes.

"I noticed Jacobs' score at No. 7," said Hatalsky, who is seeking his first Senior Tour win. "I knew that someone was playing well."

Defending champion Steve Veriato is out of contention with just five points. Last year, he posted a one-stroke victory over Tom Jenkins, Bruce Lietzke, Graham Marsh and Jesse Patino for his only win in seven years on the Senior Tour.

Park Meadows is a par-72 layout measuring 7,327 yards. First prize is $225,000

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