Golf Roundup : Lopez Shoots a 69 to Gain Share of Lead With Daniel

Nancy Lopez rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and tied Beth Daniel for the lead after two rounds of the $225,000 Atlantic City golf tournament Saturday at Galloway Township, N.J.

Lopez, who has won just once this year, had five birdies and three bogeys while shooting her second two-under-par 69 for a 138 total.

“I feel very good about my position,” Lopez said. “The way I am hitting the ball, I’m anxious to go out and play tomorrow.”

Daniel, emerging from a year-long slump, chipped in on two holes and holed a wedge from 57 yards as part of a 67, the best round of the day.

Defending champion and first-round leader Juli Inkster blew a three-stroke advantage with four bogeys on the back nine and was one shot behind Lopez and Daniel after a 72.

Bob Tway and Greg Norman shot three-under-par 69s to share the lead with five others after the twice-postponed first round of the $800,000 Western Open at Oak Park, Ill.

Floods last week and more rain this week forced tournament officials to postpone the first round two days, then hold the tournament on two different courses. The tournament was shortened to 54 holes, with a 36-hole windup today.

Also tied for the lead were Bobby Wadkins, Mike Donald, Willie Wood, Ed Dougherty and Andy Dillard.

Miller Barber sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to retain his one-stroke lead in the PGA Seniors Tour’s $300,000 GTE Northwest tournament at Seattle.

Barber’s three-under-par 69 gave him a 137 total.

Orville Moody, whose 67 was the day’s best round, was tied for second place with Butch Baird and Chi Chi Rodriguez, who shot 68s.

Kay Cockerill of Las Gatos, Calif., was leading Tracy Kerdyk of Coral Gables, Fla., by four strokes after 18 holes when rain halted the 36-hole final of the 87th Women’s Amateur at Barrington, R.I. Play will resume this morning.

Steve Schroeder of Atherton, Calif., shot a 69 to pull into a three-way tie for the lead after 54 holes of the $80,000 Queen Mary Open at Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood. Schroeder, Brian Mahon of San Diego and Louis Brown of Newman, Ga., were all at 207.