Golf Roundup : Nelson Makes Himself at Home, Leads by Four

Larry Nelson followed an opening-round 63 with a 6-under-par 66 Friday on a course that borders his home to widen his lead to four strokes midway through the $700,000 Atlanta golf tournament at Marietta, Ga.

The two-time PGA champion and former U.S. Open winner, who lives alongside the 18th fairway of the Marietta course, stood at 15-under through 36 holes--a tournament record.

His closest pursuers were Paul Azinger, who eagled the final hole to post a 67; Chip Beck, who closed with a birdie for a 66; and Bobby Wadkins, who had a 69 after a couple of late double bogeys.

Azinger sank a 60-foot putt to move into the three-way tie for second.

Patty Sheehan shot a 5-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the $500,000 LPGA McDonald’s Championship at Wilmington, Del.

Sheehan’s round, which consisted of five birdies on the Du Pont Country Club course, gave her a two-day total of 134, eight under par and three shots ahead of Nancy Lopez, Kathy Postlewait and Dottie Mochrie.

Dennis Durnian of Britain shot an eagle on the final hole to conclude a round of 2-under-par 68 and take a five-shot lead midway through the $540,000 French Open at Paris.

Durnian’s 6-foot eagle putt gave him a 36-hole total of 7-under 133. Nick Faldo of Britain is five strokes back in second place after shooting a second-round 67.

While Faldo remained in the hunt, Curtis Strange, the man who beat Faldo in a playoff Monday to win the U.S. Open is all but out of contention. Strange shot a 73 and is 10 shots off the pace at 143.

Defending champion Chi Chi Rodriguez shot a 4-under-par 68 to take a share of the first-round lead in the $250,000 Southwestern Bell Silver Pages tournament at Oklahoma City.

Rodriguez, a one-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour this year, birdied four of the last five holes, including three in a row, to tie Bobby Nichols and Gene Littler.