Golf Roundup : Putter Keeps Hayes Ahead by One

Mark Hayes, using an old putter, salvaged a three-under-par 68 from trees and traps and retained the lead Friday in the second round of the $650,000 Heritage golf tournament at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I made all the tough little putts I had to have to save par,” Hayes said after completing two trips over the Harbour Town Golf Links in 10-under-par 132.

Meanwhile, Masters champion Larry Mize failed to make the cut. Mize, who shot an opening-round 76, had a 70 Friday, but his 36-hole score of 146 was not good enough to make the final two rounds.

Hayes, who admits to constant tinkering with his clubs, said he was trying to bend his putter last week when it snapped.

He then dug out the putter he used to score his last victory 10 years ago in the Tournament Players Championship and put it back in his bag.

“It just looked good,” said Hayes, who had abandoned the club the week after the victory.

He used it only 24 times in the first round. Friday, he one-putted nine times, including a 30-footer for a birdie on the 18th hole that left him one stroke in front of Steve Jones.

Jones, who got into field as an alternate when Tony Sills withdrew, finished birdie-birdie for a 66 and a 133 total.

Scott Hoch and Howard Twitty were at 135. Each shot a 69 in the breezy, cloudy weather.

Hayes gave a hint of things to come when he hit a tree with his drive off the first tee. He was tangled up in the pines on two other occasions, made side trips into bunkers and sand but rescued his round with five par-saving putts in the two- to three-foot range.

Orville Moody shot a six-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead in the first round of the $30,000 Grand Slam championships for senior golfers at Narita, Japan.

Bobby Brue and Harold Henning of South Africa were at 67; Gene Littler and Miller Barber were at 68; defending champion Lee Elder had a 69, and Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper, Don January and Bob Charles of New Zealand were at 70.

Ian Woosnam charged through the field to take a two-shot lead after two rounds of the $250,000 Cannes Open at Cannes, France.

The Welshman set a course record with an eight-under-par 64 that included six birdies in his final eight holes and had a 137 total.

Severiano Ballesteros of Spain shot a 70 and is at 139.