Cochran Fires 65 Again, Leads by 2 Strokes in Tucson Open

Russ Cochran shot another 7-under-par 65 Friday and took a 2-stroke lead with his 130 total in the second round of the $600,000 Tucson Open golf tournament.

“No question about it, that’s the best back-to-back rounds I’ve ever had,” said the left-handed Cochran, who has not won in 6 years on the PGA Tour. “I’m not going to play much better than that.”

South African David Frost was second at 132 after his second 66 on the TPC course at StarPass.

“The magic of TPC did not put a whole lot of fear in the hearts of the players today,” said Hale Irwin, who had a 65 but failed to gain on the leader, whom he trailed by 4 strokes. “It’s difficult to believe that you shoot 7 under par and don’t make up any ground. But that’s the nature of the tour today.”

John Cook and Don Pooley were next at 135. Pooley shot a 65, Cook a 68.

Tom Purtzer made the biggest move with a 10-under-par, career-best 62 that put him in a 7-way tie at 136.

He was tied with U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange, Corey Pavin, Curt Byrum, Mark O’Meara, Howard Twitty and Robert Wrenn. Twitty had a 65, Wrenn a 66, Strange and Byrum 68s, O’Meara a 69 and Pavin a 70.