Golf Roundup : Four Are Tied for the Lead in Hawaiian Open First Round

Andy North, whose last victory came in the 1978 U.S. Open, birdied five of his last six holes for a six-under-par 66 that put him in a four-way tie for the first-round lead Thursday in the $500,000 Hawaiian Open golf tournament.

“I haven’t made that many feet worth of putts in so long it’s scary,” North said after dropping consecutive birdie putts of 20, 25 and 40 feet, and then closing with a pair of 10-footers on the last two holes at the 6,881-yard Waialae Country Club course in Honolulu.

“I’ve got the old putter back and I’m choking down on it like I used to,” North said, “and, for the first time in three years, I’m comfortable over the ball.”

North’s fast finish in warm and breezy weather lifted him into a tie with Canadian Dan Halldorson, Scott Simpson and Hal Sutton, a runner-up in the Los Angeles Open two weeks ago.

Mark O’Meara, winner of last week’s Bing Crosby National Pro-Am, topped a big group at 67. Also at that figure were Fred Couples, Dan Pohl, Vance Heafner, Larry Mize and Mike Smith.

Andy Bean, who often plays well in this event, and Craig Stadler led a group at 68.

Tom Watson encountered some putting problems and had to settle for a 71. Arnold Palmer, making one of his rare appearances in regular-tour competition, struggled to a 74.

Veterans Dot Germain, Patty Hayes and Lauren Howe, plus rookie Lynn Connelly, shot four-under-par 68s to share a one-stroke lead in the first-round of a $200,000 women’s tournament at Sarasota, Fla.

Six players were tied at 69, including LeAnn Cassaday, Janet Anderson, Donna White, Barbara Moxness, Martha Nause and Patty Sheehan.

Pat Bradley and Jane Blalock led another large contingent at 70 on the 6,124-yard Bent Tree Golf & Racquet Club course.