Mike McCullough,
winless in all 531 of his previous professional tournaments, shot a career-, course-
and tournament-record 9-under 62 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after three
rounds of the Comfort Classic.
The 54-year-old McCullough positioned himself for his first Senior PGA Tour victory
by setting a back-nine record with a 29. After parring the first five holes, he
played the remainder of his round in 10 under on the 6,796-yard Brickyard Crossing
Golf Course.
His effort eclipsed the course record of 63 established by J.C. Snead in the final
round of the 1997 tournament and equaled a year later by 1998 champion Hugh Baiocchi.
McCullough's previous best was a 64 in the fourth round of the 1998 AT&T Canada
Senior Open Championship.
McCullough's two-round total of 131 is one stroke better than Gil Morgan, who
shot a 65 Saturday.
"I
just let things happen," McCullough said.
He hit all 14 fairways, 16 of 18 greens, did not put a ball in a trap and needed
just 24 putts. He has not bogeyed a hole in two days on the dry, speedy course.
"It just felt good. My
bubble never burst," said McCullough, who had birdies on seven of eight holes
at one stretch. "For that stretch of holes, it was something special."
Ed Jenkins, who fired a
66, was at 133, while Mike Dougherty's 66 put him at 134.
Tom Watson, making his senior debut, struggled with his short game and shot a
69 to join six others at 135. He was one of five players who shared the first-round
lead.
"Fortunately,
a couple of birdies on the last two holes kept me in shouting distance, but that's
all it is - shouting distance," said Watson, who recorded six birdies and three
bogeys.
None of
Friday's first-round leaders remained at the top. Gary McCord was one of those
bunched at 135 after watching several birdie putts lip out. Bob Eastwood and Jim
Dent shot par rounds to slip seven shots off the pace, and Bobby Stroble struggled
to a 73, another shot back.
McCullough will play with Morgan and Jenkins in Sunday's final threesome.
"It'll be fun. Mike shot
a phenomenal round today," said Morgan, who toured the back side in 30. "We'll
all be trying pretty hard tomorrow."
Vincente Fernandez also shot a 65 Saturday, joining Watson and the others at 135.
Baiocchi, who won last
year's tournament at 20 under, is 10 shots behind after rounds of 70 and 71.
