Fergus Buzzes Way to the Lead

One thing is certain as far as Keith Fergus is concerned: not even a swarm of killer bees will keep him out of today’s final round of the SBC Classic.

Fergus, who once was stung several times before a round in which he shot a 67, played even better without any such bizarre inspiration Saturday at Valencia Country Club.

Having begun play at even-par and three shots off the lead, Fergus buzzed through the par-72, 6,940-yard layout to the tune of a seven-under-par 65 to give him his first tournament lead in 10 years.

That was good for a one-stroke lead over Mark McNulty and a three-shot advantage over Gary McCord and D.A. Weibring.

Mike Reid, who shot a 71, is in fifth place and Friday’s leader, Isao Aoki, carded a 73 and is in sixth. Mark Johnson, a former beer-truck driver who entered play tied with Reid in second place, looked flat in shooting a 78 and is tied for 34th.

For Fergus, whose round of 67 during the 1996 Tucson Open was good for only a 13th-place overall finish, it has been a long time since he has found success on a golf course.

His last of three triumphs on the PGA Tour was at the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1983. He quit the tour in 1986, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, and became golf coach at the University of Houston from 1988 to 1994.

Then he was bitten by the competition bug again. He re-qualified for the PGA Tour in 1995 and played through 1998. In between, before the third round of the Tucson Open, he and his caddie found themselves inside a cloud of bees and emerged with his best round of the tournament on the scorecard.

“To this day, I really don’t know what I saw,” Fergus reminisced of an incident that occurred on the practice range. “I just know that something went by me and stung me on the lip, and the next thing I know I was running for my life.”

Now in his second year on the Champions Tour, he’s coming off his lowest round on the senior circuit and looking for his first victory.

“I hit the ball well early and made some putts,” said Fergus, who finished with eight birdies versus one bogey and made several key putts, including a six-footer to save par on No. 18. “I hope that continues [today] and over the next few weeks and ... years.”

Saturday was much more accommodating, as the swirling wind that plagued golfers Friday calmed down and made it much easier to loft approach shots closer to the pins on the large, rolling greens.

At one point, six golfers were tied for the lead at five under. McCord, a commentator on CBS who plays only sparingly, eagled No. 9 to go to four under for the day and two under overall. A birdie at No. 16 put him at five under for the tournament, but he bogeyed No. 17 and finished with a 66. That tied him with McNulty for the day’s second-lowest score.

Both are within stinging distance, for sure.

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Leaderboard

Second-round leaders of the SBC Classic at Valencia CC. Par: 36-36--72.

*--* Keith Fergus 72-65--137 -7 Mark McNulty 72-66--138 -6 Gary McCord 74-66--140 -4 D.A. Weibring 71-69--140 -4 Mike Reid 70-71--141 -3 Isao Aoki 69-73--142 -2 Lanny Wadkins 73-70--143 -1 Don Pooley 72-71--143 -1 Des Smyth 71-72--143 -1 Bob Gilder 71-72--143 -1

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