GOLF / SENIORS AT OJAI : Allin Makes Himself at Home With 61

Buddy Allin, who grew up in nearby Santa Barbara and played often on the Ojai Valley Inn course, was a sensation in the second round of his fifth Senior PGA Tour event, the $750,000 FHP Health Care Classic.

With a hot putter and irons, Allin shot a nine-under 61 Saturday to set a tournament record and tie four others for the lowest score ever on the tour. Allin, who shot a 72 in the opening round, is at seven-under 133.

Finishing before the rain started, Allin closed to within three shots of co-leaders Dave Eichelberger and Bruce Devlin. Both battled the rain over the last six holes and finished with 66s and 130 totals, 10 under.

Dale Douglass, who will be 59 today, said he tried to shoot his age, but settled for a 65 and a 132 total.

Dave Stockton, who led by a stroke after a first-round 63, shot a disappointing 70 and is tied at 133 with with Allin, Tom Wargo (63) and Dave Hill (65).

Defending champion Jay Sigel, who was 10 shots behind at this stage a year ago, is at 134 after his second 67.

Rain is predicted to be heavy at times today. If the final round is rained out, Eichelberger and Devlin will have to find a lull and a playable hole for a playoff or hold the playoff Monday.

Allin, a five-time winner on the regular tour, had been off the tour for 14 years, but made it through qualifying school with a final-round four-under 68. He played in one event last fall after turning 50. In his three previous events this year, his best was a tie for 19th.

“I’m surprised,” Allin said, “but I made a putting change and I just couldn’t miss. All I did was raise my hands on the shaft. For one round, at least, it worked.

“When I looked at the (leader board) before we teed off, I was two over. I envisioned it going to minus five. But this is beyond belief.”

Of his nine birdie putts, five were from eight to 15 feet and only one, a two-footer on 16, was less than six feet. He believed he had a big advantage by playing early, in the sixth group, because the greens tend to get bumpy.

Allin has been a club pro in Southern California since leaving the tour, the last eight at Sun Lakes in Banning.

“But, when I decided last spring to make a try for the seniors, I moved to Santa Barbara,” he said. “I learned to play there and it just felt right.

“I was a little uncomfortable playing here, in front of family and friends. People come up to you to shake hands, and it’s tough to concentrate. Today was different. Everything just kept going in the hole.”

Eichelberger sank putts of 50, 35, 25 and 20 feet for birdies and then a 12-footer to save par on 18.

“For the last six or seven holes the conditions were tough out there,” Eichelberger said. “Anything in the rough was a potential disaster. I was saved by my putting.

“I knew I better make that last one, because in the back of my mind I thought I needed to be tied for first in case there’s no tomorrow.”

After two outstanding rounds, Devlin has convinced more than himself that he can still compete.

“I really feel good about the way I’m hitting the ball,” he said. “I hope we play tomorrow, but after not winning for eight years here and not since 1972 on the regular tour, I’ll take any win. Maybe ‘Berger and I will find a hole to play.”

Devlin was even par on the front nine, which Allin, Wargo and Jim Colbert played in 30 shots. Devlin made putts of 45, 35, 15 and 12 feet on the back side to rally for the tie.

There are 32 golfers below par, so Stockton’s round, in which he bogeyed out of the rough on 15 and 17, disappointed him.

Six others were tied with Sigel at 134.