Ebihara moves clear before rain stops play

Seiji Ebihara moved out to a two-stroke lead over Gil Morgan, Allen Doyle and John Jacobs on Saturday before the third round of the Senior PGA Championship was suspended because of rain.

Ebihara, who started the day two strokes behind second-round leaders Doyle and Morgan, was 2-under par through five holes at Aronimink Golf Club. Morgan and Doyle were 2 over through five holes, and Jacobs was 1 over through five.

Play was scheduled to resume at 8 a.m. ET Sunday.

Ebihara shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to climb into contention. Even though his score tied the best competitive round in Aronimink history, it was not the best thing about his day.

"I was able to get Arnold Palmer's autograph," the Japanese player said through a translator while showing off his signed visor. "He was playing in the group behind me. I was very lucky."

Ebihara got the autograph on the 14th hole and parred his way into the clubhouse. Palmer wasn't as fortunate, missing the cut with rounds of 79 and 80.

When Ebihara got Palmer's autograph, the Japanese player already was on his way to tying the course record set by John Barnum, Bob McCallister and Cary Middlecoff in the 1962 PGA Championship.

Ebihara birdied the first two holes to get to even par for the tournament. Then, after making the turn at 1 over, he strung together birdies on the 11th, 12th and 13th holes.

Ebihara's best finish to date in a Champions Tour event came in the Senior PGA Championship last year at Firestone Country Club when he closed with a 65 to tie for 18th, 10 strokes behind winner Fuzzy Zoeller.

"Every year in this tournament, the greens are beautiful, the fairways are just beautiful," Ebihara said. "This is a tough course, but one thing on my mind is that if I can get it onto the fairway, I can get a good score."

The 54-year-old Ebihara has won five events the last two seasons on the PGA European Seniors Tour. He spent most of his career in Japan before a back injury at the age of 47 sidelined him for three seasons. He was introduced to golf by Japanese star Isao Aoki, but Palmer gave him inspiration as he was learning the game.

"Obviously, all of the players around my age looks at Mr. Palmer," Ebihara said. "And it isn't just the way he swings or how he putts. It's his name and his style of play."

Doyle shot a 67 to match Morgan at 4-under 136 after two rounds. Jacobs (69) was a stroke back, and Ebihara was tied with Tom Kite (68) and Massachusetts club pro Mike San Filippo (70) at 2-under 138.

Zoeller (70) was another stroke back along with Champions Tour newcomer Craig Stadler (69), Jose Maria Canizares (68) and Wayne Levi (69).

Stadler, who turned 50 on Monday and is making his Champions Tour debut, is within striking distance despite problems on the greens. He has had 66 putts, 106th among the 143 players in the field.

"I've been struggling with my putter the last 10 years," said Stadler, a 12-time winner on the PGA TOUR.

Jack Nicklaus missed the cut with his second straight 75, ending a streak of 43 straight cuts in Champions Tour majors.

"I just didn't play very well," Nicklaus said. "That's basically what I didn't do. I was just terrible."

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