Golf Roundup : Record-Equaling 63 Gives Hoch a Two-Stroke Lead Over Koch

Scott Hoch stormed into a two-stroke lead Friday with a course-record-tying nine-under-par 63 on the shortest of three layouts used in the $400,000 Walt Disney World-Oldsmobile tournament at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Hoch, who has won three times in his six-year PGA Tour career, played the Lake Buena Vista course despite the painful recurrence of a shoulder injury.

“On the last nine holes, I was just trying to get in, but I kept hitting the ball close and making birdie putts,” Hoch said. “I never got excited because I was thinking about my shoulder.”

While his mind was on the injury, Hoch was making birdies on four of the final five holes to complete a nine-birdie, no-bogey round.

Hoch, who shot a 69 Thursday on the Palm course, had a 132 total.

Gary Koch, who shot a 68 Friday on the Palm course, is second at 134.

Six players, including first-round leader Clarence Rose, shared third place at 135. Rose, who opened with a 64 on the Palm course, shot a 71 at Lake Buena Vista.

Craig Stadler, Lanny Wadkins, Gary McCord, David Frost and Mike Donald also were at 135.

Australian Peter Thomson, who has dominated the PGA Seniors Tour this season with eight wins and more than $345,000 in prize money, shot a six-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead in the Hilton Head Seniors International at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The score broke Gary Duren’s record of 71 for the Planter’s Row course, which opened last year. It also tied the tournament record for low round, set by Thomson last year at Shipyard Golf Club.

His seven-birdie, one-bogey round put him two shots ahead of Don January.