Golf Roundup : Gallagher’s 64 Tops Finishers as Rain Delays Canadian Open

Jim Gallagher one-putted 12 times en route to an eight-under-par 64 and took the lead Thursday in the rain-delayed and uncompleted first round of the Canadian Open at Oakville in Ontario.

Heavy rain and a flooded creek delayed the start of play for five hours and made it impossible for the round to be completed.

U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange, Masters titleholder Nick Faldo of England, PGA champion Jeff Sluman, Australian Greg Norman and Lee Trevino had late tee times and did not finish.

Jack Nicklaus, who has seven runner-up finishes but has yet to win the Canadian national championship, was within two strokes of the lead until he hit into the water and made a double bogey on the final hole to finish with a 68.

Donnie Hammond birdied the final hole to complete a 66 that put him in second place.

Mark Calcavecchia was one shot higher with a 67 that included a hole-in-one, a seven-iron shot on the 156-yard third hole. He was tied with Australian Ian Baker-Finch, Steve Jones and Jodie Mudd.

Joining Nicklaus at 68 were Dick Mast, Canadian Dan Halldorson, David Ogrin, Sam Randolph and Nick Price of Zimbabwe.

Shirley Furlong, who has won only once in her five-year career, shot a five-under-par 66 to lead the first round of the $550,000 LPGA McDonald’s tournament at Wilmington, Del.

Furlong held a one-stroke advantage over Nancy Ramsbottom and Missie Berteotti on the 6,366-yard, par-71 Du Pont Country Club course.

Another stroke back were Cathy Gerring, Deborah McHaffey and Susan Sanders.