GOLF ROUNDUP : Mediate Still Hot, Shares Doral Lead

Rocco Mediate continued his sharp play for a six-under-par 66 and a share of the first-round lead Thursday in the Doral Open at Miami.

Mediate, who has yet to win in a six-season PGA Tour career but did not finish lower than 13th in five West Coast starts, shared the top spot with Keith Clearwater, Jim Hallett and Chip Beck.

Seven players were at 67, including Mark O’Meara and Wayne Levi.

More than half the 144-man field broke par 72. Seve Ballesteros, however, opened his abbreviated American season with a 75. Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman each had a 71.

Cindy Rarick began protecting her lead a little early but loosened up and shot a three-under-par 68 to keep her ahead after two rounds of the Women’s Kemper Open at Wailea, Hawaii.

Rarick made nine consecutive pars at one point, but came alive when defending champion Beth Daniel began creeping up the leader board. She birdied two of her last three holes.

Rarick was eight under, two strokes ahead of Daniel, who also shot a 68.