Player Uses Great Putting for 64 and Senior Lead in Utah

Gary Player tamed the winds at Park Meadows Golf Club on Friday, shooting an eight-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Franklin Quest Championship.

Player, who had not played in a tournament in more than a month, had nine birdies over the 7,104-yard mountain course for a lead over John Jacobs.

Player, 60, endured a 20-hour trip before arriving in Utah on Tuesday.

“I putted phenomenal today,” the South African said. “I had three putts go in and out of the hole, otherwise my round could have been better.”

Jacobs, in his second year on the Senior PGA Tour, also had nine birdies despite a bad back.

With the exception of a 20-footer, Jacobs’ birdie putts were all inside 10 feet, the result of steady iron play.

Second-year senior Ed Sneed was third at 66, followed by Mike McCullough, Dave Eichelberger and Bobby Stroble at 67. Al Geiberger and Jack Kiefer were at 68.