GOLF ROUNDUP : Twitty Shoots 62, Leads by Two

Howard Twitty had six birdies on the back nine Thursday to complete an eight-under-par 62 and take the first-round lead of the Southern Open at Columbus, Ga.

Twitty, a 16-year PGA Tour veteran who has been bothered by back problems for nearly a year, led Frank Conner and hometown favorite Larry Mize by two strokes in the $600,000 tournament over the 6,775-yard Green Island County Club course.

At 65 were Mike Donald, Dillard Pruitt and Canadians Dan Halldorson and Jim Nelford.

Twitty’s 29 on the back nine included a birdie putt of 45 feet.

Ian Woosnam of Wales and Colin Montgomerie of Scotland both shot six-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead in the Grand Prix of Europe at Chepstow, Wales. Seve Ballesteros of Spain was two shots back.