By Any Name, Morgan Leads

If there were such a thing as a single-day name change, Gil Morgan would seriously consider changing his name to Tom for the final round of the SBC Classic.

Morgan, who finished second to Tom Purtzer last year and was a stroke out of a playoff between Tom Kite and Tom Watson in 2002, shot a tournament-best six-under-par 66 on Saturday in the second round at Valencia Country Club to take a three-shot lead heading into today’s final round.

Morgan’s 11-under total is the low two-round total since the event moved to Valencia in 2002. Larry Nelson is second at eight under and Mike McCullough is third at seven under.

Peter Jacobsen, playing his first event on the Champions Tour, shot one-under 71 and is among a group of five tied for fourth at six under. The good news for Morgan, however, is that nobody named Tom is within five shots.

“I feel pretty good about my position at this point in time,” Morgan said. “I still might have to come out as Tom Morgan to maybe survive the onslaught there at the end.”

Last year, Morgan had a two-shot lead heading to the final hole, but playing partner Purtzer drained a 58-foot eagle putt and Morgan three-putted to give Purtzer the victory. The year before, Morgan nearly holed out for double eagle on the 18th, made eagle, then watched as Watson holed an eagle chip and Kite made a birdie on 18.

Morgan, a 22-time Champions Tour winner, has won three times in the Los Angeles area. He also won twice in L.A. on the PGA Tour. For Nelson, it’s quite the opposite. A 17-time winner on the Champions Tour and 10-time PGA Tour winner, Nelson has won in 13 states but never in California.

He was tied with Morgan at 10-under through 12 holes, but Morgan made birdies on the 13th and 15th for a two-shot lead. Nelson then hit into the water and made bogey on the par-three 16th. A missed green on No. 17 led to another bogey.

Though upset, he said the trophy engravers shouldn’t yet begin writing Morgan’s name.

“It’s not insurmountable here,” Nelson said. “I think the first 12 holes you can play pretty aggressive, but there’s a fine line between aggressive and stupidity. You hope that you don’t cross over it.”

Morgan will be tough to catch. He has won 11 of 17 54-hole Champions Tour events in which he has held the second-round lead. He has hit 30 of 36 greens in regulation through two rounds and shot his 14th consecutive round of par or better to start the season. Still, he isn’t counting his chickens.

“I don’t feel like it’s safe at all,” Morgan said. “I’m still going to have to go out and play a good round tomorrow to have an opportunity.

“It looked like I had a chance to shoot 65 [Saturday]. If that happens [today] and I don’t play well, they can go right by you. It happens all the time.”

Jacobsen, tied for the lead after the first round, has a balky putter to blame for slipping back. He hit 16 greens in regulation but needed 34 putts to finish the round. He missed seven putts inside eight feet.

He said he would need to make those putts today to have any chance.

“This is predominantly a wedge course,” Jacobsen said. “If you’re on with your wedges, you can make a lot of birdies. I’m going to have to shoot a low one.”

Or change his name to Tom.