Golf Roundup : Morse Takes 2-Shot Lead With a 66 in LPGA Event

Cathy Morse shot a career-best 66 and came from five strokes off the lead Friday to take a two-shot lead over Rosie Jones and Becky Pearson after two rounds of the LPGA’s $200,000 Mazda tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.

Morse birdied the last three holes on the 6,472-yard layout at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club to finish 6-under-par, which equaled a year-old course record set by Patty Sheehan and Barb Thomas. She is 6-under for the tournament.

Jones, who like Morse shot 72 in Thursday’s opening round, posted a 68 in warm, sunny weather for a two-day score of 4-under-par 140. She was joined by Pearson, who followed her opening-round 68 with a 72 that featured four birdies and four bogeys.

First-day leader Amy Alcott bogeyed the last two holes of her round to settle for a 74. She fell three shots off the lead at 3-under, tied with Heather Farr, midway through the 72-hole event.

Jane Geddes and Betsy King were next at 142 after rounds of 70 and 72. Lauri Peterson also shot 72 for a 142 total.

“There’s no question in this world that my putting has been holding me back,” said Morse, whose best finish a year ago was a tie for fifth place in the du Maurier tournament.

“My technique and basics were not very good when I came on Tour nine years ago,” she added. “I’m usually a very poor putter. The last two days I’ve been a very average to good putter. That’s been the difference.”

Doug Sanders scored an eagle on the final hole to tie fellow American Orville Moody for the first-round lead in the $300,000 Seniors Tournament at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa.

Sanders and Moody finished at 2-under-par 70, two shots ahead of South Africa’s Denis Hutchinson and Americans Gay Brewer and Billy Casper.

Sanders grabbed a share of the lead when he sank a 175-yard, five-iron shot on the 18th hole for an eagle.