GOLF : Springer Uses Local Knowledge for Share of Lead
Mike Springer started Friday’s second round of the Northern Telecom Open six shots out of the lead.
But a combination of his seven-under-par 65 and some mistakes by other contenders propelled him into a four-way tie for the lead at the halfway mark of the $1.2-million tournament.
Vijay Singh, Joe Ozaki and Dillard Pruitt also completed 36 holes at nine-under 135.
Springer, a former University of Arizona golfer, attributed his eight-birdie, one-bogey round to knowledge of the 7,148-yard Tucson National layout.
“You know which greens tend to run, you know what fairways tend to run, stuff like that,” he said. “You know, where you need to miss the ball, where you can favor a certain shot. Having some course knowledge really helps.”
Springer said a 50-foot birdie putt on the 405-yard No. 14 got him going.
“I pulled a Michael Jordan,” Springer said, making a swishing sound. “A slam dunk from 50 feet.”
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