Golf Roundup : Lohr Needs 65 to Break Hogan’s 43-Year-Old Record

Bob Lohr is interested in shooting the best score this weekend rather than the best score ever, but he has a chance to do both today.

Lohr fired a 66 Friday in the Walt Disney World tournament at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., giving him a 54-hole score of 195, 21 under par, and a 2-stroke lead. It also presented him an opportunity to break a 43-year-old PGA Tour record.

Lohr needs a 7-under 65 in today’s final round to break the mark for most shots under par. The 72-hole tournament record of 27 under was set by Ben Hogan in the 1945 Portland Invitational and was tied by Mike Souchak in the 1955 Texas Open.

“If that’s what it takes to win, I hope I get there,” Lohr said. “I’m really not thinking about any records.”

Lohr, a 4-year veteran, is trying to become the 11th first-time winner on the Tour this year and the third player to lead after every round.

Paul Azinger and Chip Beck were tied for second place at 197, 19 under par. Azinger matched Lohr’s first-round score with a 62 Friday, and Beck shot a 63.

Sandy Lyle sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole and finished with a 71 for a 1-shot lead over Severiano Ballesteros halfway through the $963,000 Volvo Masters tournament at Sotogrande, Spain.

Lyle, the U.S. Masters champion from Scotland, was at 5-under-par 139 for 36 holes over the long, windy and difficult Valderrama course. Ballesteros, the British Open winner from Spain, shot a second-round 72, including a bogey on the final hole that cost him a share of the lead.

Leading Senior PGA Tour money winner Bob Charles used a steady putter to birdie six holes during a round of 5-under-par 67 that gave him the first-round lead in the $250,000 Las Vegas seniors tournament.

Trailing Charles at 68 were Jim Ferree, Bobby Nichols, Dave Hill, Orville Moody and Larry Mowry.

Another shot back at 69 were Miller Barber, Walter Zembriski and Lou Graham.