Golf Roundup : Twitty, Jones Share One-Stroke Phoenix Lead

Howard Twitty, playing on a golf course he helped design, shot a six-under-par 65 Friday for a share of the lead after two rounds of the $600,000 Phoenix Open golf tournament.

Twitty, a native of Phoenix and a consultant in the design and construction of the new TPC course at Scottsdale, Ariz., had a 133 total.

He was tied at that figure with Steve Jones, another resident of the area. Jones, who hasn’t finished higher than sixth in three full seasons on the PGA Tour, had the lead alone until he three-putted for a bogey on his last hole, completing a round of 68.

Mark Calcavecchia, a third-place finisher each of the last two weeks, put himself in contention again, shooting a 66 that lifted him within one stroke of the lead.

He was tied at 134 with Mark O’Meara, Jay Haas and Corey Pavin, winner of last week’s Bob Hope Classic.

Haas had a second-round 66; Pavin shot a 69, and O’Meara had to rally from a string of three bogeys to match par 71 in cool, breezy weather.

Several players thought Twitty might have an advantage in the tournament because of his work with course designers Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, but he disagreed.

“I’ve seen (the course) more, but I don’t think I have that much (of an advantage),” Twitty said. “All the courses are charted, and yardage measurements are taken. If there’s any advantage, it’s very little.”

Jones had an erratic day, with seven birdies and four bogeys.

“I was a little anxious; I’m glad I was able to make some birdies, too,” said Jones, who finished first at the PGA qualifying school last year. “I’m pleased. I just hope I can keep it going tomorrow.”

West German Bernhard Langer, runner-up last week in the Hope, failed to qualify for the final two rounds after shooting a 71 for a 144. Ben Crenshaw also missed at 150. His 78 included a 9 on his last hole, where he five-putted.

Defending champion Cindy Scholefield of Malibu and top-ranked Leslie Shannon of Miami were knocked out of the Doherty Challenge Cup amateur golf tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Shannon, the No.1 woman amateur in the nation, was upset by Joan Pitcock of Fresno, 1 up, in the morning third round. Scholefield bowed out in the afternoon quarterfinals when Lee Ann Hammack of Oklahoma City won four of the last seven holes for a 1-up victory.

In today’s semifinals, Hammack will play Carol Semple Thompson of Sewickley, Pa., and Pitcock will face medalist Robin Weiss of Palm Beach, Fla.