Golf Roundup : Fabel Leads by 2 Strokes; Smith Shoots a Record 61

Brad Fabel shot a five-under-par 65 Friday to take a two-stroke lead midway through the $500,000 Hardee’s golf tournament at Coal Valley, Ill.

Fabel completed two rounds on the 6,602-yard Oakwood Country Club in 129, the lowest midway score on the PGA Tour this year, but had to share the spotlight with Mike Smith.

Smith, in danger of missing the cut after an opening 71, closed within three shots of the lead after the lowest round of the year, a 61 that included nine birdies and no bogeys. Smith’s score broke the tournament record of 62, set by Jon Chaffee in 1983 and tied two years later by Ron Streck.

Mark McCumber had a 67 for 131. He was joined by Ray Barr Jr. and Tom Purtzer, each with 64s.

Jody Rosenthal, winner of the Du Maurier tournament last week in Canada, shot a six-under-par 66 for a 135 total and a two-shot lead after two rounds of the $300,000 Boston Five tournament at Danvers, Mass.

Tied for second were Sally Quinlan, Betsy King and Becky Pearson.

Defending champion Bruce Crampton shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in a $250,000 seniors tournament at Syracuse, N.Y.

Crampton has a one-stroke edge over Orville Moody. Four players--Miller Barber, Charles Sifford, Jim Barber and Quinton Gray--are at 67.

Jimmy England of Gastonia, N.C., and Kevin Johnson of Pembroke, Mass., each won two matches to advance to today’s final of the the 62nd annual U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Cincinnati.

Johnson defeated 18-year-old Brian Bridges of Whitehall, Ohio, 3 and 2, in the semifinals, and England beat Rodney Wilson of Petaluma, Calif., 2 and 1. In his quarterfinal Friday morning, Johnson eliminated Eric Woods of Newport Beach, 3-2.