GOLF ROUNDUP : Sullivan Breaks 70 Again, Leads by Two

Mike Sullivan posted his first consecutive sub-70 rounds of the year to grab a two-shot lead in the $1.5-million Greater Greensboro Open.

Sullivan, who has won only twice in 17 seasons on the PGA Tour, followed up his 67 of Thursday with a 68 for a nine-under-par 135 through 36 holes on the Forest Oaks Country Club course.

Alone at 137 was 24-year-old Dudley Hart, who had a bogey-free round of 65, matching the tournament’s best score. Jeff Sluman, who shot a 78 Thursday, also had a 65 after posting a 30 on his first nine holes.

Lennie Clements, who led during much of the first round before bogeying the final two holes, had a 68 and was alone at 138.

“You could conceivably bogey almost every hole out here with the way the wind is blowing and the way the greens are rolling,” Clements said. “You just have to take a hole at a time. There is no hole out here you fear making a 12 on like maybe a TPC course, but they are all real solid holes.”

Sullivan had only two top-10 finishes last season and his best this year was a tie for 23rd after struggling with back problems and playing in only six events.

“I don’t think there is anything you can really do to make yourself play better other than to just convince yourself you have to be patient,” said Sullivan, whose tour victories came in 1980 and 1989. “In the past that has been my drawback; I’ve been very impatient.”

U.S. Senior Open champion Larry Laoretti shot a two-under-par 70 in tough conditions to take the first-round lead in the $500,000 Muratec Reunion Pro-Am at Frisco, Tex.

With winds measuring between 35 and 43 m.p.h., Laoretti finished two strokes ahead of Don January and Gene Littler. He was the only pro in the 78-player field to break par at the 6,737-yard Stonebriar Country Club course.

George Archer, the defending champion, shot a 77. Tom Wargo, winner of last week’s PGA Seniors Championship, finished with a 75.