GOLF ROUNDUP : Elkington Gladly Assumes the Top Spot

Steve Elkington shot his second consecutive six-under-par 66 Friday for a three-shot lead halfway through the Buick Southern Open in Pine Mountain, Ga.

Elkington held his lead over fellow Australian Steve Rintoul, who shot 65, and Steve Lamontagne, who shot 69.

First-round leader Todd Barranger skied to a 77 for a 142 total.

“I’ve been in all positions,� Elkington said. “In front’s always the best place to be.�

Elkington, regaining his form after being bothered by sinus problems and hepatitis earlier this year, was at 12-under 132.

He played a bogey-free round, falling in love with a new big-headed driver he said he would have tossed in a lake had there been one on the ninth hole in the first round when he sprayed his tee shots all over the place.

“I played really good,� he said. “I’m driving the ball long and straight. I’ve hit so many greens that I haven’t had the chance to get in any trouble.�

Paul Azinger made his first cut since undergoing cancer surgery in December, shooting a 70 after his opening 71.

Defending champion John Inman was among those missing the cut, finishing 75-148.

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Dave Stockton birdied eight of his first 11 holes in a nine-under-par 63 that set the competitive course record at Tanglewood in the first-round of the Vantage Championship in Clemmons, N.C.

But Stockton’s round, which included nine birdies, didn’t give him much breathing room as 46 of 78 players were under par on the third lowest opening-round scoring day of the year.

Bob Murphy is at 64, with five others at 66.

Stockton, who has won three times in 1994, set the course mark by one shot. The previous record was held by six golfers, including Jim Colbert and DeWitt Weaver last year.

Amateur Ron Morgan shot a 63 in 1978 while playing with friends.

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Lightly regarded Pearl Sinn shot a two-under-par 70 to stretch her lead to four strokes after two rounds of the $500,000 LPGA Heartland Classic in St. Louis.

Sinn, from UCLA, had a two-day total of seven-under 137. Four strokes back were Julie Larsen, Colleen Walker, Deb Richard and Liselotte Neumann.

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Paced by another record-breaking round by Wendy Ward, the three-woman United States squad stretched its lead to eight strokes in the World Amateur Team Championships in Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines, France.

Ward, the U.S. Amateur champion, smashed the course record for the second day in a row, firing a five-under-par 67 over the 5,858-yard French National course.

The American squad, looking for its 12th title in 16 tournaments, finished the third round at nine-under-par 423.

Defending champion Spain tied for second with Australia, both at 431, and France was at 432.