Golf Roundup : Walker Ties Struggling Alcott at Phoenix

Colleen Walker shot a two-under-par 71 Friday and tied Amy Alcott for the lead in the second round of the $350,000 LPGA Turquoise tournament at Phoenix.

Walker survived a shaky start, while Alcott struggled to a 73 as the two were at 138 after 36 holes on the 6,404-yard Moon Valley Golf Course.

South Korea’s Ok Hee-Ku shot a 68 and was at 139, while Rosie Jones was at 141 after a 71.

Japan’s Ayako Okamoto moved into contention, shooting her second straight 71. She was among six golfers at 142.

Defending champion Pat Bradley finished with a 78 for a 154 and failed to make the cut, which was at 148.

English rookie Laura Davies, last week’s winner in Tucson, posted a 70 and was at 145.

Alcott threatened to run away from the field, beginning her round with birdies on three of the first four holes. But she cooled off on the back nine, averting more trouble with four par-saving putts.

Alcott, a 13-year pro ranked 20th in 1988 earnings with $22,027, hit into bunkers en route to bogeying both the 12th and 17th holes. She then hit a long drive on the 360-yard 18th hole, but it struck the top of a tree and bounced backward 40 yards into a water hazard.

Alcott hit a wedge up 28 feet from the pin and two-putted for a double-bogey 6.

Alcott has 26 career victories but failed to win a tournament last year for the first time since turning professional in 1975.

Walker, 31, is seeking her second career victory in six years on the LPGA Tour.

Walker had her first bogey of the tournament, taking a 6 on the 10th hole, her first hole of the day. She then dropped birdie putts from 20 and 10 feet on Nos. 11 and 15 and tapped in a 3-footer for a birdie on the par-4 No. 6.

Bob Charles of New Zealand shot a five-under-par 67 and took a one-stroke lead in the first round of the $360,000 Grand Slam Senior tournament at Narita, Japan.

Don Massengale, Billy Casper and Japanese Ichiro Togawa and Kesahiko Uchida were tied for second with 68s. Charles Coody was next at 69.

Arnold Palmer used a 4-iron for a hole-in-one on the 182-yard, par-3 14th hole. He finished with a 70 on the 6,660-yard Oak Hills Country Club course.

Defending champion Gene Littler opened with a 71.