Golf Roundup : Langer, Couples Share Hawaii Lead

Bernhard Langer did not use his driver on the way to an eight-under-par 64 that lifted him into a tie with Fred Couples for the lead Friday after the second round of the $600,000 Hawaiian Open at Honolulu.

“I carried it around just to show off,” joked the West German star who completed two trips over the Waialae Country Club course in a 10-under-par 134.

Langer said he used a 3-wood off most tees because “I’m hitting it pretty good and I just wanted to keep it in play.”

The strategy helped produce the best round of the tournament, a bogey-free effort that included one string of four consecutive birdies.

He was tied with Couples, who shot a 65 while playing in the same threesome with Langer. Couples two-putted for birdie on the 18th hole, missing a 15-foot eagle putt that would have given him 29 on the back nine.

The trade winds freshened in the afternoon and became gusty and blustery, sending the late starters sliding down the leader board.

Tom Watson was within three shots under par at the turn, but backed away in the shifty, tricky winds. He finished with a 71 and a 138 total.

Jack Renner was within one of the lead after nine, then struggled to a 38 on the back and finished at 71-137.

And Corey Pavin, the defending champion and first-round leader, blew to a 75--10 shots higher than his opening round--and a 140 total.

Those various misadventures left Larry Mize alone in second at 135, with Paul Azinger at 136. Azinger and Mize both played in the morning and each shot a 66.

Despite using a 3-wood off the tee, Langer reached three of the par-5s in two and birdied all of them, dropping a 15-footer on the final hole. He two-putted from 80 feet on two of the long holes and missed a seven-foot eagle putt on the other.

Nancy Lopez, needing one victory to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame, charged from the pack by shooting a six-under-par 66 to tie Chris Johnson for the lead at 139 after two rounds of a $200,000 tournament at Sarasota, Fla.

Lopez, who carded a first-round 73. After a 67, Johnson shot a 72.

One stroke behind the lead are Jane Geddes and Kathy Baker. Geddes matched Lopez’s low round of the day, 66, to go with an opening-round 74. Baker recorded a 68 after a first-round 72.

Australia’s Greg Norman unleashed a six-hole burst of four birdies and an eagle to sail into the quarterfinals of the $100,000 Australian Match Play Championship at Melbourne.

The British Open champion, who trailed fellow Australian Mike Clayton for the first seven holes, cut loose to score a 4 and 3 victory.