Golf Roundup : Bean Leading Nelson By One After a 68

Andy Bean, finishing his round as rain was peppering down, posted a two-under-par 68 Friday to take a one-shot lead over Mark Wiebe and Jim Gallagher after two rounds of the $600,000 Byron Nelson golf tournament on the Tournament Players Club course at Las Colinas in Irving, Tex.

“It was like a yo-yo,” said Bean, who needed only 12 putts to finish the front nine but then three-putted three times on the back side. “I could have shot a 63 or 64, but I turned it into a 68.

Bean, the year’s fourth-leading money winner with $272,304, had a 134 total.

Wiebe, in his third year on the tour and seeking his second victory, shot a 66. Gallagher, winless in three tour seasons, had a 67.

First-round leader Mark Hayes had to be content with a 72 and a share of third place at 136 with Ed Fiori (65), Charles Bolling (65), Scott Simpson (66) and Payne Stewart (66).

Tom Purtzer shot a competitive course-record 63 and is in a group at 137. Four-time winner Tom Watson missed the cut with a 144 after shooting a 70.

Rookie Deb Richard and veteran Bonnie Lauer, each used eagles to help them shoot three-under-par 69s and tie for the first-round lead in the $250,000 Sleepy Hole Golf tournament at Suffolk, Va., as only five of the 144 golfers were able to break par.

Richard, boosted by a downhill drive, eagled the 465-yard, par-5 fifth hole. Lauer eagled the 480-yard, par-5 second hole.

In third place was rookie Pamela Allen, 29, of Billings, Mont., who had a 70. Tied for fourth were Janet Coles and Betsy King, who both shot 71s.

Bruce Crampton shot a five-under-par 67 to lead the 26 players who finished the course before rain ended the first round of the Benson & Hedges Invitational Senior PGA tournament at San Antonio, Tex.

Crampton birdied five holes and was in the clubhouse shortly after noon.

Howie Johnson was second with a 69, while Ken Still, Gay Brewer and Art Wall tied for third at 70.

Twenty-eight players were on the course at 4:54 p.m. when play was suspended for the day. They will finish this morning before the second round begins.