Pohl Flirts With Record, Settles for 62 and 3-Shot Lead

Dan Pohl flirted with the PGA Tour record before settling for a 62 and a three-shot lead Friday in the uncompleted second round of the rain-plagued $800,000 Honda tournament.

“It was possible,” Pohl said of the PGA Tour one-round record of 59, set by Al Geiberger in 1977, that was within his reach. “Realistically, I had a chance. I was thinking about it.”

He didn’t make it, but he did set course records with a 29 on the back nine, a 62 for the day and a two-round total of 16-under-par 128, three strokes better than Buddy Gardner.

For the second consecutive day, half the field--72 players--was stranded on the TPC course at Eagle Trace. They were scheduled to return at 8 this morning to complete the second round.

The field then will be trimmed to the low 70 scorers and new pairings made for the third round this afternoon.

The overnight suspension marked the eighth time in nine tournaments that a round had not been completed on the day it started.

Among those who will complete their second rounds today are first-round leader Tom Byrum, U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange and Masters title-holder Sandy Lyle of Scotland.

It appeared unlikely that any could overtake Pohl, who scored the only two victories of his 12-year career in 1986.

Pohl and partners Fuzzy Zoeller and Paul Azinger had 10 holes of first-round play to complete when they started at daylight Friday.

Pohl went 4-under for those 10 holes, finishing off a 66, then overshadowed Zoeller and Azinger with eight birdies and an eagle over the second round.

Zoeller and Azinger shot 66s in the threesome, which completed the round without a bogey.

Defending champion Joey Sindelar was at 132 after rounds of 68 and 64. Azinger (67-66) and Payne Stewart (68-65) were next at 133.