Golf Roundup : Danny Edwards Takes Lead Before Rain Hits

Danny Edwards fought off chilly winds to shoot a three-under-par 69 Friday and take the lead in the rain-curtailed second round of the Greater Greensboro Open golf tournament at Greensboro, N.C.

Light rains started around noon at the Forest Oaks Country Club, but by 3 p.m. EST, heavy rains, thunder and lightning forced two suspensions of play. A third delay came at 4 p.m. and ended play for the day with about half the field still on the cold and wind-swept course.

Edwards, a two-time winner at Greensboro, had a two-round total of five-under 139.

T.C. Chen, a co-leader in the first round after a 68, had moved to five under par through the first nine holes before the suspension.

“The wind is what really gives you the problem,” Edwards said. “Guys would rather play in the rain than in the wind.”

Edwards, 33rd on the 1987 money-winning list with more than $78,000 so far, got off to a good start, eagling the par-5 second hole. He also had a birdie at No. 12, knocking in a 15-foot putt.

“Yesterday (Thursday), you could hit your two best and you couldn’t get within 50 yards of No. 2,” Edwards said. “Today (Friday), I hit a drive and a 5-wood about 15 feet behind the hole and made it.”

Roger Maltbie, who was tied with Chen after the opening round, skied to a 41 on his front nine Friday and finished with a 78 for a two-round total of 146.

Clarence Rose shot a 68 and was one shot behind Edwards at 140.

“I hit a lot of greens and I had a good opportunity to shoot a good score,” Rose said. “But I didn’t make too many putts.”

Also at 140 were Gibby Gilbert and Mark Hayes. Both had second-round 70s.

Bruce Crampton of Australia made up two strokes on the final hole to edge Chi Chi Rodriguez by one shot as the International team extended its lead to 20-12 after two days of the Chrylser Cup at Sarasota, Fla.

Other second-day winners for the International team were Harold Henning and Gary Player of South Africa, Bob Charles of New Zealand and Christy O’Connor of Ireland. The United States squad got victories from Lee Elder, Dale Douglass and Gene Littler.

Each victory in the head-to-head stroke-play competition earned two points for the team. The International team led, 10-6, after Thursday’s first round in the Ryder Cup-style event for seniors at the Tournament Players Club.

“This is not really much of a lead,” said Player, the International team captain. “The matches really haven’t started yet.”

Eight two-man teams will play a best-ball format today for a total of 34 points. Another 34 points will be up for grabs Sunday.

On Friday, Rodriguez went to the 18th hole one shot up on Crampton, but he hit his second shot on the par-4 hole over the green. He chipped long and then two-putted for a bogey to complete a round of 70.

Crampton sank a birdie putt from seven feet to cap his round of 69.

Player scored an easy 69-78 victory over Miller Barber, while Henning edged Arnold Palmer, 72-73; Charles downed Bob January, 69-73, and O’Connor beat Casper, 69-72.

O’Connor made a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th hole, using a 6-iron from 163 yards away.

Douglass blitzed Peter Thomson of Australia, 68-74, but Elder and Littler had more difficult contests. Littler barely held off Peter Butler of England, 75-76, and Elder defeated Roberto DeVicenzo of Argentina, 72-74.