Armour Takes Lead in PGA Qualifying Bid

Tommy Armour III is out to establish his own identity on the PGA Tour.

Grandson of the former tour player of the same name, Armour fired a 3-under 69 Wednesday to take a one-shot lead at the halfway mark of the PGA sectional qualifying tournament at Valencia Golf Course.

Armour, of Dallas, has a two-day total of 72-69--141 in the 72-hole event that ends Friday. The low 40 in the 81-man field advance to the PGA regionals in Bakersfield next month.

The Valencia tournament is the first leg of a three-step process to qualify for a PGA Tour card.

Jay Don Blake of St. George, Utah, is a shot back of Armour after two rounds of 71. At 1-under 143 are Jim Plotkin of San Bernardino and Mark Blakely of Temple City.

Former USC All-American and U.S. Amateur champion Sam Randolph, making his first attempt at earning a tour card, fired a 1-under-par 71 for a 36-hole total of 144.

Dave Hobby of Santa Ana and Henry White of Salt Lake City are tied at 146.

Six shots off the pace in a four-way tie at 147 are former Thousand Oaks High teammates Mark Levander and Ted Lehmann. Also at three-over 147 are Vic Wilk of Sepulveda and Eric Evans of Marina Del Rey.

Westlake Village’s Ron Commans, who led the tournament with a 69 after the first round, struggled to an 8-over 80 on the 7,100-yard layout, and is eight shots behind Armour at 149.