GOLF ROUNDUP : Frost in Front, Followed by Freds

David Frost of South Africa led at the halfway point of the $1-million Buick Classic, but was hearing footsteps from the feet of Fred.

“There was nothing heroic about it. Not very exciting,” Frost said after his 68 broke a five-way tie for the lead after 36 holes at Harrison, N.Y.

Frost, who completed two trips over the Westchester Country Club in seven-under-par 135, was one shot ahead of Fred Funk and three in front of Fred Couples.

“We’re the only two Freds out here,” said Funk, a 36-year-old former coach at the University of Maryland who scored the first victory of his PGA tour career in Houston earlier this season.

“They call him Boom Boom,” Funk said of Couples. “They call me Poof Poof.”

Funk missed only one of the tiny greens and one fairway during a round of 67 that put him in a tie for second with Duffy Waldorf at 136, one stroke back.

Waldorf also shot a 67.

Couples birdied four holes in a row and five of six for a 67 that lifted him into a tie for fourth at 138 with Bill Britton, Greg Kraft and Australian Steve Elkington.

Gibby Gilbert shot a tournament-record eight-under-par 62 during the opening round of the Southwestern Bell Classic at Kansas City, Mo., matching the lowest round on the PGA Seniors Tour this year.

Gilbert, seeking his first Senior Tour victory after four second-place finishes, had eight birdies and 10 pars on the 6,496 Loch Lloyd Course.

Gilbert tied the course record set during Wednesday’s pro-am by Dick Hendrickson, who was one of three golfers at 66 on Friday.

Also at 66 were Charles Coody and Dale Douglass. Six were tied at 67.

Gilbert credited an old friend and unlikely caddie, Grier Jones, with helping him to the record-breaking round. Jones, who once roomed with Gilbert on the regular PGA Tour, is now club pro at the Terradyne Country Club near Wichita.

“I called Grier and said, ‘How about coming up and coaching me?’ ” Gilbert said. “I told him I’d been playing better than I was scoring. I’m sure this is the first time he ever caddied for anybody.”

Patty Sheehan put on a late charge to take a two-stroke lead over Nancy Lopez and Michelle McGann in the $400,000 Rochester International at Pittsford, N.Y.

Sheehan, whose last victory on the tour came in February of 1991, picked up six birdies on her back nine to finish at seven-under-par 65 for the day and nine-under 135 after 36 holes.

A three-putt bogey on the 18th hole dropped Lopez, the first-round leader, to 71 for the day and 137 for two rounds. McGann was also at 137 after a 70.