Thorpe Is Closing In on Fleisher

Jim Thorpe is on target for a major breakthrough on the Senior PGA Tour.

Thorpe, seeking his first tour victory in 14 years, shot one of his best rounds in years Friday to move within a stroke of second-round leader Bruce Fleisher in the U.S. Senior Open at Bethlehem, Pa.

“I’m a much better ball-striker now,” Thorpe said. “Back then, I was young and strong and everything; I had to hit it half a mile. Now, even though I can hit a seven-iron from 180 yards, I know I don’t have to.”

Thorpe, 51, shot a six-under-par 65 at Saucon Valley Country Club. He birdied the last three holes for a 30 on the back nine.

Fleisher shot a 69 for a nine-under 133 total. Hubert Green had a 70 and fell two strokes behind.

Thorpe matched the record for lowest nine-hole score previously posted by five players, most recently by Ed Dougherty on the back nine of the first round last year.

“The golf course fits the way I play,” said Thorpe, who has finished higher than sixth in only one of 19 events this year.

Thorpe pumped his fist after sinking a 30-footer for birdie on the 18th hole as the gallery roared. He had six birdies and 12 pars.

“During the practice round, I putted very, very well,” Thorpe said. “Plus the fact I like tough, tough greens. I like tough contours on the greens. I like it when you can’t stand it and bang it in the hole, like a lot of golf courses that we play on the senior tour.”

Tom Kite also shot a 65 Friday as he and Thorpe tied the record for lowest-second round score in a Senior Open, matching Gary Player’s number in 1990.

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Mark Calcavecchia shot a six-under 64 to keep pace with Notah Begay after the second round of the Greater Hartford Open.

Calcavecchia, a nine-time winner on tour, matched Begay at 11-under 129 on the TPC at River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn. Begay, coming off a victory last week in Memphis, shot a 65.

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Janice Moodie, Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Michelle Estill shot five-under 66s to share the first-round lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Absecon, N.J. They held a one-stroke lead over three others.