Hall Has His Day at Senior Open

Walter Hall shot a six-under-par 65 Friday to take a one-shot lead over Tom Kite and Jose Maria Canizares at the midway point of the U.S. Senior Open at Owings Mills, Md.

It was Hall’s first sub-70 score in 14 rounds at the Senior Open.

“I probably won’t ever do it again, but I sure had my day in the sun today,� said Hall, who has a seven-under 135 total. “This was my Tom Kite imitation today.�

Kite shot a 67 and is at 136 with Canizares, who shot his second 68.

R.W. Eaks, who tied a tournament record with a 64 on Thursday, fell off the pace with a double bogey on the 16th hole and finished with a 73 for a 137.

Fred Gibson, Tom Watson and Isao Aoki were at 138. Gibson and Aoki shot 69s, Watson a 71.

Arnold Palmer had three triple bogeys and a double bogey, shooting an 85 for a 25-over total. But he wasn’t the only one to struggle on the 7,005-yard Caves Valley Golf Club course.

Gary Player, who shot a 75 for a 154, and defending champion Bruce Fleisher, who shot a 75 for a 151, were among several prominent golfers who missed the cut of 149.

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Glen Hnatiuk shot a second consecutive six-under 65 and held a one-stroke lead after the second round of the St. Jude Classic at Memphis, Tenn.

Hnatiuk shared a one-stroke lead after the suspended first round, and he went to No. 18 tied with Notah Begay, Pat Bates and Jay Haas at 11 under. He concluded his bogey-free round with his sixth birdie as he holed a 28-foot putt for the lead by himself at 12-under 130.

Begay turned in a 65 that was his best score in 73 rounds. That tied him with Bates (63) and Haas (64) at 131.

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Kate Golden parlayed a midweek swing change into a seven-under 64 and had a one-stroke lead after the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, the final tuneup for next week’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Juli Inkster and Lorie Kane were tied for second at Galloway Township, N.J., and Annika Sorenstam put herself in position for a fourth win in six starts and sixth win in 12 events this year by shooting a 68 at the Bay Course of the Marriott Seaview Resort.

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Three-time British Open champion Seve Ballesteros of Spain has withdrawn from next month’s event. Ballesteros has missed the cut in the British Open the last six years.