LPGA’s Walker Falls to Second in Mixed Event; Club Pro Leads

Bob Ford, a head pro at the Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, shot a seven-under-par 65 Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Colleen Walker in the Spalding Invitational Pro-Am golf tournament

Ford, the 1987 PGA club pro of the year and 1988 club pro player of the year, had nine birdies, two bogeys and seven pars on the par-72 Desert Highlands course and wound up with a 36-hole total of seven-under 137.

Meanwhile, Walker fired a 73 on the same course for 138.

Walker, seeking to become the first woman to win the Spalding tournament, which mixes PGA and LPGA pros along with amateurs, had led going into the round with a 65 on the par-72 Renegade course Thursday.

The format calls for golfers to play one round each at Desert Highlands, Renegade and the Boulders course, for a par of 214 after 54 holes, then play Sunday’s final round at Desert Highlands.

The field will be trimmed to the top 60 professionals and ties after the third round.

Three PGA regulars, David Edwards, Johnny Miller and Kenny Knox, were three shots off the pace with 140s after Friday’s play. However, Edwards and Miller were four-under because their first two rounds were on the longer courses.

Al Geiberger, Roger Maltbie, Howard Twitty, Gene Sauers, Ronnie Black and Bill Glasson were bunched at 141.

A 45-minute hailstorm halted play at the Renegade course, which is close to mountains, and rendered it unplayable.

That left 22 players on the course. They were scheduled to conclude their rounds this morning before starting the third round at Desert Highlands.

No significant rain fell at Desert Highlands or on the par-70 Boulders course.