GOLF ROUNDUP : Nicklaus Improves, but He’s 10 Behind Trevino

Lee Trevino, seeking his third victory of the year, shot a five-under-par 67 Friday for a two-round total of 137 and a two-stroke lead over Bobby Nichols and Dave Hill in the $1-million Senior Players championship at Dearborn, Mich.

Last year, Trevino finished 21-under when the tournament was played at nearby Dearborn County Club but still finished six strokes behind Jack Nicklaus.

“I’d like to have 21-under here, I’ll tell you that,” Trevino said. “Actually, I think with these conditions, 12-under will win it.”

Nicklaus, who designed the new 6,876-yard TPC of Michigan layout, recovered from an opening-round 77 with a 70, but still trails Trevino by 10 shots.

“Today I got it around,” Nicklaus said. “At least I’m heading in the right direction. At least I got a couple birdies in. But I have a lot of ground to make up in the next two days.

“I’m just like any other golfer. We all have our bad days.”

Trevino started the second round four strokes behind first-round leader Jim Albus, and got to seven under with a round of eight birdies and three bogeys.

“I’m never comfortable,” Trevino said. “But Jack’s going to have to make up 10 strokes here. That’s a lot. He might catch some of us, but probably doesn’t have a good chance of catching all of us now.”

Albus followed his first-round 66 with a two-over 74 to fall into a four-way tie for third with Charles Coody, Mike Hill and Bob Charles.

Miller Barber matched Trevino’s second-round 67 but was far back in the pack at one-under 143. That makes him the leader among those 60 and older.

Chris Perry birdied the last two holes for a three-under-par 68 and a share of the lead with Paul Azinger and Denis Watson halfway through the $1-million Buick Open at Harrison, N.Y.

Perry, who is at eight-under 134, is atop the halfway leaderboard for the second time in three weeks.

“They’re thinking, ‘Perry? Oh, he hasn’t won yet. We don’t have to worry about him,’ ” the son of former major league pitcher Jim Perry said.

“One of these days they won’t be saying that,” said Perry, not yet a winner in a seven-season PGA Tour career.

Azinger continued his mastery of the front nine on the Westchester Country Club course during a round of 68.

For the second day in a row he played the front in 31 and was two over par on the back nine.

“Just coincidence,” he said.

Hale Irwin, the defending Buick Open champion as well as in next week’s U.S. Open, remained in touch with the lead at 136.

Jenny Lidback bettered par for only the fifth time this year with a three-under 68 and took a one-stroke lead after the first round of a $300,000 LPGA tournament at Somers Point, N.J.

Lidback had five birdies and two bogeys in recording her first score under 70 in 41 rounds this year.

Amy Alcott, who will join the LPGA Hall of Fame with her next victory, was at 69 along with Judy Dickinson and Caroline Pierce, who like Lidback has never won an LPGA event.

Laura Baugh, who is still looking for her first victory since joining the tour in 1973, was at 70, tied with Cindy Schreyer.

Two-time winner Juli Inkster and Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, looking to make her first cut this year, were at par.