Saturday, January 30, 1999

Colbert ‘skins’
the field

By Bill Kwon
Star-Bulletin

KOHALA COAST -- Jim Colbert, the Senior PGA Tour's 1998 comeback player of the year, picked up seven skins and $150,000 today in the Senior Skins Game at the Mauna Lani's Francis I'i Brown South Course.

It was the biggest first-day ever as the others in the foursome -- Raymond Floyd, who's seeking his sixth straight Senior Skins title, Hale Irwin and Arnold Palmer were shut out.

But don't count out Floyd. He was also shut out on the first day in 1994 and came back to win the event with $240,000, which started his streak of five in a row.

"You can't win on the first day," said Colbert, who replaced Jack Nicklaus in the event when the latter underwent hip-replacement surgery Wednesday.

There's still $290,000 up for grabs tomorrow, including $90,000 starting with the par-5 10th hole.

Still, Colbert has to like his position.

Colbert struck quickly, birdieing the par-4 first hole and picking up the first skin worth $20,000 by wedging his approach shot to 2 12 feet of the flagstick.

He added two more skins at the par-5 third with a great 25-foot birdie putt from the back apron with Floyd sitting four feet away from picking up $40,000. The money went to Colbert instead as Floyd's putt slipped by the hole.

Colbert dropped a four-foot birdie at the par-4 seventh that was worth $90,000 with three $20,000 carryovers. He hit a knock-down 5-iron from 165 yards to set up his bountiful birdie that gave him $150,000 on the first day.

The foursome, who collectively have earned $38.45 million in golf winnings, will play the final nine holes early tomorrow morning. With two $30,000 carryovers, the opening hole will be worth $90,000. Holes 13 through 18 are worth $40,000 each.