GOLF ROUNDUP : Strange Equals Record, Takes One-Stroke Lead

U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange shot a seven-under-par 65 Thursday to tie the course record and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Open at Melbourne.

Strange had two eagles, five birdies and two bogeys on the par-72, 6,847-yard Kingston Heath course, matching the record set by Gary Player in 1970 and tied by Ronan Rafferty of Northern Ireland.

Australian PGA champion Peter Senior and three other Australians--Lucien Tinkler, Brett Ogle and Jeff Woodland--all had rounds of 66 to keep the pressure on Strange.

British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia was another shot back at 67 after beginning his round with a bogey at the first hole. He had two other bogeys, but also had eight birdies, including five in six holes from the fourth to the ninth.

Jay Don Blake and Tracy Kerdyk teamed up to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the $1-million J.C. Penney tournament at Largo, Fla.

Blake, 71st on the 1989 men’s money list with $200,499, and Kerdyk, who finished second to Sweden’s Pam Wright in the women’s rookie of the year competition, scored a nine-under-par 63 in the modified alternate shot format used.

Blake and Kerdyk finished ahead of Tommy Armour III and Lori Garbacz, who had nine birdies and two bogeys for a 65. Four more teams were tied at 67, four shots off the pace, with another four teams at 68 and four more at 69.