MCCORD DOES HIMSELF PROUD AT PACIFIC BELL CLASSIC.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Daily News Staff Writer

It's back to the broadcast booth for Gary McCord but not before proving, again, that he can hold his own on the Senior PGA Tour.

The longtime CBS golf commentator and recent golf author wrote a nifty 66 on his scorecard Sunday, capping a weekend of progressively better rounds in a 5-under-par, 73-69-66-208 showing at the Pacific Bell Senior Classic.

``It's fun, much more fun,'' McCord said of the chance to play rather than observe inside the ropes - an opportunity he turned into a seventh-place finish and $33,550.

The former UC Riverside All-American, who got into the event at Wilshire Country Club on a sponsor's exemption, has earned $112,173 in six senior events since turning 50 in May and has been a top-10 finisher his last two times out.

Sunday's winnings - McCord's largest tour paycheck of the year - sends him into December's senior- tour school in the top half of the '98 earnings list despite limited appearances.

He says he's taking this more seriously than his few appearances in PGA Tour events in recent years but doesn't expect to be more than a part-time senior-tour player whether he earns full exemption (top eight at Q school) or not.

``This is a new go at 50,'' said McCord, who has shot in the 60s in each of his last five tournaments with a senior-tour best of 65 at the Boone Valley Classic.

``My swing is a lot different than it was when I played on the regular tour, I've got a lot more money than when I played on the regular tour, so everything's kind of loosened up for me to play and try to go forward.''

``I'm not going to be able to play a whole lot next year,'' he added. ``Eight to 10 events regardless of whether I get No. 1 in qualifying school or whatever. I've got a lot of stuff going on and I've just got a couple of weeks to fit the Senior Tour in.

``But I love it, it's a ball. I like to play - I know that now. You've got to manage yourself, that's all.''

McCord admits it's also nice to have a fall-back position, just in case his qualifying-school fate leaves him short of full-time status on the no-cut, guaranteed-pay Senior Tour:

``I've got a couple of backup jobs, which makes it nice.''

One up, one down: Tournament champion Joe Inman's dramatic showing this week - improving from No. 42 to No. 28 on the 1998 Senior Tour money list - not only earned him full-time playing status next year but also knocked Bob Dickson from the top 31 and out of this week's Senior Tour Championship at Myrtle Beach.

Palmer update: Arnold Palmer, the 69-year-old VMP (very most popular) entry, closed 7-over-par 78 to finish next to last at 233 - seven strokes ahead of tailender Gay Brewer. Palmer, wearing his trademark pink shirt, struggled with two double-bogeys on the front nine but birdied the 194-yard 13th.