Norman and Faldo Tie for Aussie Masters Lead

Defending champion Greg Norman and U.S. Masters champion Nick Faldo both shot a 6-under-par 67 today and tied for the lead after 36 holes of the Australian Masters golf championship.

Norman, seeking his sixth victory in the 12-year history of the tournament, and Faldo were 11-under-par at 135 halfway through the tournament. Both had 68s in the opening round.

Two strokes behind them were Australians Ian Baker-Finch, Jeff Woodland and Steven Bann.

Another shot back, at 138, were four more Australians, first-round leader Mike Clayton, Brad King, Roger Mackay and Ken Dukes.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange shot a 73 today and fell to 26th place with a 142 total.

Norman said the hot and windy conditions made the course a lot tougher than on Thursday but he still managed seven birdies and a solitary bogey.

“I hit a couple of very good iron shots, putted well and made bogey when I deserved to make bogey,” he said.

Faldo ignited his round with an eagle-three at the 10th hole on the 6,798-yard Huntingdale course. He sank an 18-foot putt after a six-iron approach.

He followed with a birdie three at the 13th, rolling in a 6-foot putt.

The Briton, who finished with a birdie at the 18th, disagreed with suggestions that the tournament could turn into a Norman-Faldo shoot-out.

“There are a lot of guys there, and we’re only halfway through,” he said.

In Povoa de Varzim, Portugal, today, Stephen Hamill of Northern Island fired a 5-under-par 67 today and moved into the lead after the second round of the Atlantic Open golf tournament with a 138 total.

The 24-year-old Hamill, a pro for eight years, highlighted his round with two eagles--rolling in a 50-foot putt on the second hole and sinking a chip shot from about 30 yards on the 15th.

American Ron Stelten shot 69 to share second place with Peter Smith of Aberdeen, Scotland, one stroke back, in this season opening event for the PGA European Tour.