Golf Roundup : Nicklaus Gets Share of Lead With Birdie on Final Hole

Jack Nicklaus rapped in a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to move into a a tie for the lead Friday in the second round of his own tournament, the Memorial, at Dublin, Ohio.

Nicklaus, who recently added a sixth Masters victory to his record collection of 18 major professional titles, was greeted by a standing ovation as he strode up the 18th fairway.

He responded with a wave, then gave them a more popular response with the putt that finished off a round of 70, two under par on the Muirfield Village Golf Club course that Nicklaus designed and built.

The tournament host and founder, now 46, completed two trips over the familiar, rolling hills in 136.

He was tied with Dan Halldorson, the Canadian who held the first-round lead; Doug Tewell, and Don Pooley, winner of last year’s Vardon Trophy for the low stroke average on the PGA Tour.

Pooley closed with a 67 and would have had the lead alone but for a bogey on the 18th, where he bounced his tee shot off a tree. Halldorson shot a 71 in the sunny, breezy weather. Tewell had a 70 that included birdies on two of the last three holes.

At 137 were Hal Sutton, Peter Jacobsen, Lennie Clements, Larry Mize, Chip Beck and Tom Purtzer.

Andy Bean, a two-time winner this season, shot a 66 and was among those at 138.

Beth Daniel shot a two-under-par 70 to hold off the fast-charging Cindy Hill and keep the lead in the $250,020 Corning tournament at Corning, N.Y., after two rounds.

Daniel, who began the day with a three-stroke advantage, led Hill by one stroke with a 137 total. Hill had the best round of the tournament, a 65.

Lee Elder shot a bogey-free 66 for a 131 total that extended his lead to seven strokes in the second round of the $230,000 Coca-Cola Grand Slam senior tournament at Narita, Japan.

Defending champion Miller Barber was second at 138 after a 67.

Baldovino Dassu of Italy sank a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to tie Britain’s Nick Faldo at four-under-par 68 for the first-round lead in the $300,000 European PGA Championship at Virginia Water, England.

Britain’s Sandy Lyle, Spain’s Manuel Pinero and Britain’s Ronan Rafferty were next at 69.