KAHUKU, Hawaii, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- John Jacobs overcame a slow start with a strong finish Friday to seize a share of the lead after one round of the Senior PGA Tour's Turtle Bay Championship.
Jacobs fired a 4-under-par 68 and was tied with Fred Gibson and Terry Mauney, neither of whom have finished in the top three this year. Hale Irwin was among six players at 69.
Jacobs, 56, bogeyed the par-4 second hole when he put his tee shot in a bunker and lipped out his par putt as he battled uncharacteristically inclement conditions.
But the three-time winner rattled off three birdies over four holes beginning at the par-3 fourth. He also birdied the last two holes.
"The first few holes were diabolical with the wind and rain," Jacobs said. "The course was completely different than yesterday. I made some nice putts on the first five holes in the rain, then it cleared out for 10 holes and then it started blowing again coming in."
Jacobs also has not had a top-three finish this year. However, he is 31st on the money list, making him the last player currently eligible for the upcoming Tour Championship. He has played in the event in the last five years and finished second in 2000.
"I want to get back in the Tour Championship," he said. "I've played in that every year. I've been functioning at about 50 percent for most of the year. It's my own fault."
Mauney is 32nd on the money list with $532,886, about $16,000 behind Jacobs. Gibson is 58th and needs more than a win here to gain a berth in the exclusive year-ending event.
