Golf Roundup : Curl Takes 2-Shot Lead With a 61

Rod Curl had 11 birdies en route to a course record-tying 61 Friday and took a two-shot lead in the $350,000 Southern Open golf tournament at Columbus, Ga.

Curl, who has been on the PGA Tour for 17 years, had a 36-hole total of 131.

Andy Bean, Payne Stewart and Tom Sieckmann were at 133. Bean, the third-leading money winner on the tour this season, shot a 65. Stewart had a 67 and Sieckmann a 66 over the narrow, hilly 6,791-yard, par-70 Green Island Country Club course.

Jack Nicklaus defeated rookie Jose-Maria Olazabal of Spain, 5 and 4, in the second round of the $270,000 World Match Play Championship at Wentworth, England. In another key match, Rodger Davis of Australia beat Severiano Ballesteros of Spain, 7 and 6.

In today’s semifinals, Nicklaus will face Greg Norman of Australia, a 4-and-2 winner over Joe Ozaki of Japan, while Davis will take on Sandy Lyle of Britain, who was two down with two to play but rallied to beat Tommy Nakajima of Japan on the second extra hole.