Long Putts Give Walters the Lead : Golf: Five players are three shots back in LPGA tournament at Los Coyotes.

Lisa Walters, who has missed the cut in six of her previous 10 tournaments, made seven putts ranging from 10 to 30 feet in the 20 holes she played Friday to take a three-shot lead at the halfway point of the MBS LPGA tournament at Los Coyotes in Buena Park.

After making a 15-footer to save par on her last hole of the lightning-delayed first round in the morning, she had a seven-under-par 65 in the second round for an eight-under-par 136. She had only two rounds in the 60s in 24 previous tournaments this season.

Donna Andrews, Alice Miller, Tina Barrett, Betsy King and Deedee Lasker were at 139. Barrett was three-under par on one hole with the tournament’s most spectacular shot, a double-eagle two on the 455-yard, par-five third hole.

“I had 201 yards to the front of the green and hit a three-wood,” Barrett said.

“I lost it (in flight) but picked it up when it started rolling toward the hole. I didn’t know it went in until I heard all the people shouting and waving. That was amazing, to go from one under to four under on the same hole.”

It was the first double eagle on the LPGA tour this year.

Walters made an eagle on the same hole but gave more credit to her putter than to her woods.

“I wasn’t real close (to the hole) all day, but I had a real hot putter,” she said.

“My brother, Layne, who used to caddie for me, suggested I try a new putter this week. I used it for the first time Thursday and had 29 putts. That was the fewest I’d had in three or four months. Today I only had 26 or 27. I love it.”

Walters, who left her native British Columbia in 1979 to attend Florida State, was in a dilemma before she teed off.

“I either wanted to miss the cut or get a late tee time (by shooting a low score) tomorrow so I can watch the Seminoles,” she said. Florida State play at Michigan today.

A low score became more logical after Walters made her eagle. She hit a three-wood tee shot, a 215-yard five-wood and sank a 10-foot putt. After that, she made birdie putts of 15 feet at No. 9, 18 feet at No. 10, 15 feet at No. 12 and 12 feet at No. 13, then finished with a 30-footer at No. 18.

“I could have had birdies on 14, 15 and 16, too,” she said. “I had fairly long putts at each of them, but left all three short right by the hole.

“Last week when I shot 75, I was striking the ball better than today. I was hitting it well enough to be under par today, but 65, that’s a real surprise.”

Miller, who all but disappeared from the LPGA leader boards after a four-victory year in 1985, continued her comeback with a 67. After not finishing higher than 10th in five years, Miller won at Toledo in July.

“I think I have (my game) back on the right track, maybe not at the same level that I was in 1985, but close,” Miller said.

“The difference between the top and being close to the top is measured in small increments.

“My ball-striking was consistent today. I didn’t miss any fairways. I missed the last two cuts because of bad putting. Yesterday, I missed one short putt. Today, I didn’t miss any. I feel if I putt well, I think I will be OK.”

King, a two-time winner this year and twice player of the year, had a two-birdie, no-bogey round for a 70. At No. 10, she saved par with an eight-foot putt after blasting from a bunker.

“I feel like I’m ready for the last two rounds,” King said.

“I’ve hit some good shots and feel like I’m playing pretty well.”

Amy Alcott (72--143) and Pat Bradley (70--142) each has 29 tour victories and needs one more to gain the LPGA Hall of Fame.

FACE TO FACE: Brandie Burton and Michelle Estill are competing for rookie- of-the-year honors. C18