Reid Shoots 64 to Take 2-Stroke Lead in Tucson Open

Mike Reid displayed an unusual mastery of the long holes in a round of eight-under-par 64 Thursday and took a two-stroke lead in the uncompleted first round of the Tucson Open golf tournament.

Play was halted by darkness with 10 players still on the course. They marked their positions and will return at daybreak today to finish their first-round play. The second round will then begin on schedule. None of those left on the course appeared to have a chance of overtaking Reid.

Dan Forsman, John McComish and Blaine McCallister shared second place with 66s.

Reid, one of the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour, reached three of the par-5s in 2 and birdied all four.

“I manhandled them,” the soft-spoken Reid said with mock bravado. Last week, I holed a pitching wedge shot for my first eagle in a year and a half. I don’t often play the par-5s like I did today.”

Reid, who has earned more than $1 million but has yet to win a tournament in an 11-year tour career, did not make a bogey in his round on the TPC course at Star Pass.

The new course, being used in tournament competition for the first time, was no match for golf’s touring pros, who took advantage of mild temperatures and gentle desert breezes to make a mockery of par.

About half the field of 159 was under par, but Tom Watson was not among them. He could do no better than a 72. U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson was at 75.