Purtzer Hits an Unlucky 13th

Tom Purtzer hasn’t hit many bad shots in the Toshiba Senior Classic, but one he hit on the 13th hole during the second round turned what appeared to be a runaway into what should be a four-player shootout in today’s final round.

Purtzer followed his first-round 60 with an even-par 71 Saturday at Newport Beach Country Club and still has a share of the lead, but oh, what might have been.

He led by six over playing partner Morris Hatalsky approaching the par-three 13th, but he hit the ball long and left and wound up with a double bogey. Shaken, he made bogeys on two of the last five holes while Hatalsky made two birdies in the home stretch. That left them tied for the lead at 11-under-par 131.

John Jacobs, who birdied the last five holes during the first round, had two birdies and an eagle on the last four holes Saturday, shot 65 and is a stroke back. Tour rookie Keith Fergus had six birdies in seven holes to start the back nine, shot a second consecutive 66 and is tied with Jacobs.

“I feel like I let everybody back in the tournament,” said Purtzer, who a day earlier flirted with a 59. “If I shot a 68 or 67, something like that, it would have been a lot more fun tomorrow, but now it’s going to be hard work.”

It looked as if Purtzer was on his way to the type of round that would have made today a victory lap. He made two birdies on the first four holes then made consecutive birdies at Nos. 10, 11 and 12 to get to 15 under for the tournament.

On the 170-yard 13th, Purtzer took a six-iron out of his bag. When he got over the ball, he had the feeling it was too much club. He swung too easy, flipped his hands and sent the ball 40 yards left of the hole.

“I picked the six-iron out without really thinking,” Purtzer said. “It should have been a seven to the middle. I just made three birdies in a row and after that you’re kind of going, whatever I do, it’s going to be the right thing.”

It wasn’t, and the mistake stuck with him through the rest of the round.

“One shot just kind of ruined my whole day,” Purtzer said. “I shouldn’t have let it, but it just did.”

Hatalsky, who shot a 66, said he felt fortunate to be at the top of the leaderboard. He made birdies on the first three holes but hit only nine greens in regulation. A hot putter saved him, however, as he completed the round with only 21 putts.

“It was basically a day of scrambling for me,” he said. “I relied heavily on my short game today. Putting makes up for a multitude of sins.”

Hatalsky still makes Purtzer the favorite.

“He’ll bounce back,” Hatalsky said. “I expect Tom to play a really good round. It’s going to be competitive, but if I am to have any kind of a chance I’m going to have to hit the ball better.”

Purtzer, whose only Champions Tour victory came in the 2003 SBC Classic, must regroup and try to find the same type of game that helped him forge that big lead through the first 30 holes of the tournament.

“Nothing felt as good as it did [Friday],” Purtzer said. “It just was not an easy day. I still feel like I’m playing good, though. Maybe it was a little nerves and hopefully those will be gone by tomorrow.”