On This Day, Colbert Is Gimme Jimmy : Golf: He shoots a 65 to take first-round lead in senior tournament at Wilshire. Five players are two strokes back.

By THOMAS BONK

Oct. 21, 1995 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

They’re hanging curveballs. They’re pucks in the crease. They’re layups. They’re those pleasant little foot-and-a-half putts and they’re the reason Jim Colbert is the first-round leader of the Ralphs Senior Classic.

Everyone took aim at storied old Wilshire Country Club on opening day Friday, but nobody got around any quicker than Colbert, whose 65 included three birdie putts of 18 inches or less.

If there is a reason Colbert has won nearly $1.1 million this season, it may be how he feels standing there, looking at putts requiring the ball to roll about twice before it jumps into the hole.

“I can make a high percentage of those babies,” Colbert said.

Apparently. He made each of the three that presented themselves on the last five holes, which dropped him to six-under par for the day and a two-stroke lead over the five players who turned in 67s.

Bud Allin, Deane Beman, Rives McBee, Terry Dill and Larry Gilbert are the golfers two behind Colbert at Wilshire, which held up fairly well in its first attack by professionals in a tournament since the 1944 L.A. Open.

Half the 78-player field shot par or better over the relatively short Wilshire layout, which measures 6,575 yards and invites good scoring if you can hit it straight.

Colbert did, especially right into the holes, and quickly formed an opinion about Wilshire.

“I like this place,” he said.

A bunch of people did Friday. There are 20 players within four shots of Colbert and the golf cart race to the $120,000 first prize could get even tighter before long.

Dave Stockton, who leads a group of five tied at three-under 68, was joined by Chi Chi Rodriguez, Rocky Thompson, Bruce Devlin and Dale Douglass.

Allin’s 67 might have been the most surprising score of the day, especially to him. He didn’t expect that much.

He and his wife just bought a house in Boulder City, Nev., and have spent most of the last six days traveling. That meant Allin needed a new approach to the tournament.

“I told my wife I’m going to kind of take the week off--mentally,” he said. “I’m pooped.”

At least Allin has reason to be pooped. He flew from Sacramento to Las Vegas on Sunday and his wife drove 350 miles from their house in Hemet and met him in Boulder City, which is near Las Vegas.

Monday, they drove 350 miles back to Hemet. Tuesday, Allin drove 97 miles to Wilshire and got lost. Wednesday, he drove back to Hemet. Thursday, the Allins flew to Las Vegas. They rented a car and drove home that night. Friday morning, Allin drove to Wilshire.

All this meant only one thing to Allin.

“I’m getting too old to ride in a car and get out and play golf,” he said.

Beman, the former PGA Tour commissioner, birdied four holes on the back nine after getting a putting tip from Rick Rielly, Wilshire’s head pro.

Rielly studied a videotape of Beman’s swing and noticed that Beman’s head was moving.

“It comes from playing customer golf when you’re not really paying attention to what you’re doing,” Beman said. “It’s an easy habit to get into. On some greens, you can get used to just waving the ball in the hole.”

McBee’s 32 on the back matched Colbert for the day’s best. But Colbert sounded a warning that there may be more of the same coming.

Instead of taking a few weeks off, Colbert kept playing so he could chase Stockton, Ray Floyd and the money title.

“I was actually a zombie four weeks ago,” Colbert said. “I don’t know. I feel pretty clear now.”

Short putts must improve your vision too.