Two-time Mid-Amateur champion Tim Jackson, 51, Germantown, Tenn., won his first-round match, 2 and 1, over Jordan Nasser, 26, of Irvine, Calif., for his 28th match-play victory at the championship.
Jackson is now tied with George Zahringer on the all-time match-play wins list in fourth place, behind Jerry Courville (first with 36), Danny Yates and Jay Sigel (tied for second with 30).
“Does it mean anything? Do I get a lifetime exemption?” Jackson asked with a touch of friendly sarcasm. He also asked if Zahringer had won (he did not).
The two-time Walker Cup representative and current Tennessee Golf Association president has advanced to match play at the Mid-Amateur 18 times.
“It's good to win,” Jackson said. “To play these 26- and 27-year-old kids and still be competitive, that’s all you can ask for – to be competitive and still have a chance.”
Jackson, who earned low-amateur honors at the U.S. Senior Open for the second consecutive time earlier this summer, is using his experience to its fullest.
Asked what he uses against younger and stronger players, he says: “I got the grey hair and the savvy.” --Pete Kowalski