GOLF ROUNDUP : Peoples Has 2-Shot Lead After 1st 62

David Peoples shot an eight-under-par 62 Friday, including a 29 on the back nine, to take a two-shot lead at the halfway point of the Southern Open at Columbus, Ga.

Peoples had a 36-hole total of 129 over the 6,775-yard Green Island Country Club course, two strokes better than PGA Tour rookie Jeff Wilson and Kenny Knox.

Knox also had a 62, and Wilson shot 64.

Another stroke back was Frank Conner, who had a 68 on Friday.

First-round leader Howard Twitty fell to a 71 and was at 133, four shots off the pace along with Nolan Henke and Buddy Gardner.

Henke, who won the B.C. Open last week, and Gardner each had 66.

Bob Tway was at 134 after a second consecutive 67.

Peoples, who joined the tour in 1983, has had to go to qualifying school each year he has played, never earning enough money to keep his card. He was the medalist in the 1989 school and is enjoying his finest year by far with earnings of more than $197,000.

It was his first 62.

Defending champion Bob Charles shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead in the senior tournament at Melbourne, Fla.

Charles’ eight-birdie, one-bogey round gave the left-hander a one-shot lead over Mike Hill, Bob Rawlins and Dale Douglass at the 6,590-yard Suntree Country Club course.

Gary Player, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Homero Blancas and Deray Simon each had a 68.

Ian Woosnam of Wales, seeking his second victory in a row, shot a four-under-par 67 and took a two-stroke lead in the $750,000 Grand Prix of Europe at Chepstow, Wales.

Mark McNulty also had a 67 and was second at 134.