Golf Roundup : Twitty Goes by the Book, Ties for the Lead in Colonial

Howard Twitty, who has helped rebuild his game by reading Ben Hogan’s instructional book, shot his second straight two-under-par 68 Friday to tie David Edwards for the lead at 136 in the second round of the Colonial National Invitation golf tournament at Fort Worth.

Hogan, the legendary player who once called Colonial his home course and who won the tournament five times, published a book a generation ago, listing what he called the five fundamentals of golf.

“I’ve probably read that book 150 times,” said Twitty, who has two victories in a 12-year PGA Tour career--the last coming in 1980.

“I even wore one out and had to buy another one. I don’t have a teacher. I just read that book. It has helped me a lot this year.”

Edwards, trying to rebound from the worst season in his seven-year career, shot a 67.

Dan Pohl (with a 69) and Bob Tway (68) were tied for third at 137, and Bob Gilder, Bill Rogers, defending champion Corey Pavin and first-round leader Gene Sauers were at 138.

Gilder shot the day’s best round, a 65.

Betsy King and Jane Blalock, playing in the same threesome, fired six-under-par 67s and shared a two-stroke lead in the opening round of the $200,000 Chrysler-Plymouth tournament at the Fairmount Country Club in Chatham Township, N.J.

While King and Blalock were matching birdies most of the day, Pat Bradley stumbled slightly in her bid to become the first player to earn $2 million on the LPGA tour, shooting a 74.

Bradley is $3,079 shy of the $2-million mark and needs to finish the tournament 14th or better.

Gary Player tied a tournament record with a four-under-par 66 to take the lead in the first round of the PGA Senior tournament at Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, Pa.

Player, who equaled Don January’s 1985 mark, had a two-stroke lead over Gordon Jones.

Miller Barber, Bob Charles, Gardner Dickinson and Walter Zembriski all shot 69s.

Player, who is in his first season on the Senior tour, had six birdies and two bogeys in his round.

Ian Baker-Finch of Australia concluded his second round with three straight birdies for a four-under-par 68 and a 137 total that gave him a two-shot lead over Howard Clark midway through the $225,000 Spanish Open at Madrid.

Severiano Ballesteros shot a 66 for a 140 total.