GOLF : Whisman Sets Torrid Early Pace

Greg Whisman had 20 points after Thursday’s first round of the International golf tournament.

Now, his goal is to get it back to zero.

Tournament scoring is based on a system in which only point totals--not medal scores--count.

Eight points are awarded for a double-eagle, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, none for par, minus-one for a bogey and minus-three for double-bogey or worse.

Whisman’s 20 points were earned with 10 birdies in a round in which he used only 19 strokes on putting surfaces. Under a conventional scoring system, he would have been at 62, 10 under par on the 7,559-yard Castle Pines Golf Club course.

Under these circumstances, he plays today’s second round with a five-point lead over Bob Gilder and eight over Craig Stadler. Former International champion Joey Sindelar had 10 points and another former champion, Greg Norman, had nine.

Whisman could go back to zero by being among the 72 players to survive the 36-hole cut and the 24 to make it past 54 holes. Under the International format, all points are erased for Sunday’s final round, when the 24 finalists play for almost all of the $1.2-million purse.

The object is to survive through the first three rounds.

Whisman, 31, a graduate of the Ben Hogan Tour, took the biggest step in that direction with the largest single-round point total in the tournament’s seven-year history.

The record, 18, was set by Keith Clearwater last year.

John Daly, who recently purchased a home on this course, powered his way to eight points, but others found themselves in danger of an early departure.

Jack Nicklaus, who designed the Castle Pines course, and son Gary are in danger of missing the cut. Jack Nicklaus had one point, Gary Nicklaus minus-two. Mark Calcavecchia also was at minus-two and Tom Watson at minus-three.