Rose’s 64 Leads Disney Golf by One

Clarence Rose shot an eight-under-par 64 on the Palm course Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the $400,000 Walt Disney World golf tournament.

Craig Stadler was second with a 65 on the Magnolia course, and Woody Blackburn, Ken Brown, Mike Donald, Gary Koch and David Frost were tied at 66.

Golfers will split time between the 6,917-yard Palm course, the 7,150-yard Magnolia and the 6,655-yard Lake Buena Vista, all par-72s. The field will be cut to the low 70 scores following Saturday’s play, and the survivors will compete in Sunday’s final round at Magnolia.

“The first nine holes we were in the dark,” said Rose, referring to the dark clouds caused by a storm that passed through in the morning. “I didn’t know where it was going the first four or five holes.”

Stadler also teed off early, right behind Rose, and had to overcome problems of poor visibility.