Armour Opens a Commanding 6-Stroke Lead in PGA Qualifier

Even though the sectional qualifying tournament at Valencia Golf Course is a preliminary step to the lucrative PGA Tour, Tommy Armour III is playing as though there is prize money at stake.

Armour fired a second-straight round of 69 on Thursday to take a six-shot lead into today’s final round of the 72-hole event, the first tournament in a three-part process in obtaining a PGA Tour card.

Three-day totals of 72-69-69--210 give Armour, of Dallas, a commanding six-shot margin over Pete Izumigawa of Japan and Jim Plotkin of San Bernardino.

Only half of the 80-player field will advance to the PGA regionals next month in Bakersfield. And while the PGA’s version of the top 40 doesn’t pay any extra for finishing at the top of the charts, there were still a few records targeted Thursday.

Former UCLA All-American Duffy Waldorf of Tarzana recorded the day’s low round, tying the course record with a 5-under 67 on the 7,100-yard layout. Tied with Waldorf for fourth at 218 are Vic Wilk of Sepulveda and Sam Randolph of Santa Barbara.

Ron Commans of Westlake who opened Tuesday with a 69 but skied to an 80 in the second round, quickly moved back into contention with a 2-under 70.

“Anyone who finishes at 16-over or better will have a good chance of qualifying for the regionals,” Commans predicted.

Santa Ana’s Dave Hobby is seventh at 220.

Jeff Hart of Solana Beach, Mike Gorton of Santa Barbara and Eric Evans of Marina Del Rey are tied at 222, well within the top 40.

Former Thousand Oaks High teammates Mark Levander and Ted Lehmann are also still in contention. Lehmann shot 78 on Thursday and is at 9 over. Levander shot 80 and is at 227, 11 over.