GOLF : Springer Fires Near-Record 64

GREENSBORO, N.C. â€”  Four weeks of steady improvement turned into one day of near-record golf for Mike Springer on Thursday.

Trying to regain some consistency after elbow and wrist problems hindered him in 1993, Springer shot an eight-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead over Hale Irwin and the first-round lead in the Greater Greensboro Open.

Springer became the third golfer to shoot a first-day 64 at Forest Oaks Country Club, joining Tom Purtzer in 1980 and Jeff Sluman in 1988. He was two strokes short of the course record shot by Davis Love III in the final round two years ago.

“I’ve been driving the ball pretty good, hitting irons in there pretty good. The putter hasn’t been all that great,� Springer said.

Peter Jordan, a graduate of the Nike and T.C. Jordan tours, had seven birdies and one bogey on the way to a 66.

Lee Janzen, Bill Glasson and Brad Faxon were among six golfers at 68.

Beginning on the back nine, Springer three-putted from 50 feet for bogey. He got back to even par with a wedge shot to 10 feet on the 13th hole and a 35-foot putt at 14. One more birdie came at 16 on a 20-footer.

Springer’s assault on the course picked up on the back nine, where he had six birdies.

Springer has been seeing a chiropractor to relieve the pain that caused him to miss 16 cuts and also forced him out of all but five of the last 19 tournaments.

Irwin nearly overtook Springer on the last two holes. His 40-foot putt for birdie at 17 stopped five inches short. His chip from the fringe at the 18th green rolled to about three inches.