GOLF ROUNDUP : Inspired Twiggs Leads at Houston

Greg Twiggs overcame a personal scare involving his 22-month-old daughter and shot a seven-under-par 65 Friday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Houston Open at The Woodlands.

Twiggs’ daughter, Tianna, swallowed some of her grandfather’s medication and had to have her stomach pumped Thursday in Palm Springs. She remained hospitalized overnight and her condition improved Friday.

“She’s fine now, but I didn’t find out until about 20 minutes before going to bed, so I didn’t sleep much,” Twiggs said. “She was kind of my inspiration today. She’s been through a lot.”

Relieved that his daughter had improved, Twiggs set about conquering the 7,042-yard Tournament Players Course for the second consecutive day and finished with a 36-hole total of 133, 11 under par and a shot ahead of first day co-leader Ronnie Black.

Davis Love III, trying to become the first to win three consecutive tournaments since Gary Player in 1978, remained in the field with a 140 total for two rounds. He shot a 71 Friday. Fred Couples shot a one-over par 73 but still joined the last group to make the 36-hole cut at 143.

Black shot a second-round 69 for a 134 total. He had four birdies and the missed a chance to share the lead when he bogeyed the final hole.

Mike Hulbert, who shared the first-day lead with Black, shot a 72 that included three bogeys and three birdies. That gave him a 137, tying him with six players, including Tom Kite, who shot a 70.

Jimmy Powell had an eagle and a birdie over his final five holes to join Butch Baird and Larry Laoretti in a three-way tie at 68 in the first round of the Las Vegas Senior Classic.

Powell played in ideal weather at the Desert Inn Country Club after Laoretti and Baird credited breezy conditions with their low scores.

Trailing by two shots were Dale Douglass, Jim Colbert, Rocky Thompson, Jim Albus and Simon Hobday.

The Senior PGA tour’s hottest pair, Lee Trevino and Mike Hill, were further back. Trevino had a one-under-par 71, and Hill shot 74.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, who has won the last two Las Vegas Senior Classics, shot a 73. Arnold Palmer shot a 77.

Former Arizona State stars Michelle Estill and Danielle Ammaccapane shared the second-round lead midway through the $1.2-million Centel Classic, the richest tournament in women’s golf.

Ammaccapane shot a four-under-par 68 on the Killearn Country Club course at Tallahassee, Fla., to match Estill, who shot a 71. They are both at seven-under 137.

First-round leader Colleen Walker, Alice Ritzman, Liselotte Neumann and last week’s tour winner, Maggie Will, were one back at 138.

Defending champion Pat Bradley shot a 69 and stood at 139. She was joined by 1990 Centel champion Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon, Dana Lofland, Missie Berteotti, Mitzi Edge, Lynn Connelly and Dottie Mochrie, this year’s leading money winner.

Yet another former Arizona State player, 1991 rookie of the year Brandie Burton, was in the logjam at 140 that included Betsy King, who shot the day’s best round, a 67.

American Mark O’Meara shot a seven-under-par 65 and moved into a five-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the Italian Open at Monticello, Italy.

Also at 137 were were Jose-Maria Olazabal of Spain, Sweden’s Anders Forsbrand and Scotland’s Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie.