GOLF ROUNDUP : Couples, Azinger Share Lead in Miami; Kite Misses Cut

Fred Couples shot a 67 despite gusty winds and tied Paul Azinger for the second-round lead Friday in the Doral Open golf tournament at Miami.

Couples, seeking a second consecutive PGA Tour victory, completed two rounds on Doral’s Blue Monster course in 134, 10 under par.

He was tied with Azinger, who converted a good finish and a better start into a 66, the best round of the day.

The day’s biggest surprise was when Tom Kite shot a 78 and missed the cut by one stroke. It was the first time in 37 tournaments, since 1988, that he had missed a cut.

Mark Calcavecchia, playing hours ahead of Couples and Azinger in the worst of the winds, with gusts to 30 m.p.h.--shot a 67 that left him one stroke off the lead at 135.

Tom Purtzer was fourth, two back of Calcavecchia, at 137.

John Cook and Phil Blackmar were next at 138. Each had a second-round 71.

First-round leader Jim Gallagher went to a 74 and was at 139.

Jack Nicklaus matched par 72 and reached the tournament halfway point at 140, six shots back.

Australian Greg Norman was 73-141. PGA champion Payne Stewart and Tom Watson both had scores of 73-143.

Azinger, who has won once and has a second place finish in six tournaments this year, said his fast start “kind of caught me off guard.

“Going to the first tee I was a little insecure about the way I was hitting it.”

But he needed only a five-iron second shot to reach the green on the par-5 first hole. He made an 10 foot putt for eagle.

Mitzi Edge, seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, fought stiff winds to match par and take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Women’s Kemper Open at Wailea, Hawaii.

Edge shot 71 to reach the midway point at 139, three under par.

Laura Davies of Great Britain shot 71 and was two strokes back at 141. Cathy Gerring was even after shooting 71.

Edge bogeyed two holes and birdied twice on the front nine, including a 60-foot birdie putt on No. 9.

Edge began the day tied for the lead with Patty Sheehan and Kristi Albers. Sheehan fell off with a 76, and was five strokes back. Albers shot a 78.