Rookie Paulson Shoots Record 62 to Take Lead

Dennis Paulson, a 31-year-old tour rookie, set a course record and tied the tournament record Friday with a 10-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead in the Freeport-McMorRan Golf Classic.

Paulson, who started the day at two over, capped his round with two eagles on the back nine to complete 36 holes at 136.

“I was only three under at the turn, then I knocked a wedge in on the next hole for an eagle. I said to my caddie, ‘We’re making some good shots here. Let’s just make one good swing at a time,’ ” Paulson said.

Paulson, from Palm Desert, broke the course record of 63 set Thursday by Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain. The tournament record of 62 was set by Bob Gilder in 1979.

Paulson played in six tournaments since finishing 10th in the 1993 qualifying tournament, making three cuts, with a best finish of 12th at Pebble Beach. He has earned $31,242.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Paulson said. “They don’t issue a trophy for yesterday or today. There are two more rounds before they do that, and I don’t think I’ve ever shot like this and then come back and shot a good round the next day. It’s tough to keep from thinking.”

Olazabal had that problem Friday, following his 63 with a 74 that featured five bogeys. He shared second with Ben Crenshaw.

“I made a few mistakes. I didn’t make my putts and I didn’t make the right club selection sometimes,” Olazabal said. “Thanks to what I did yesterday, I’m still on the leader board and I have two more days to go.”

Olazabal three-putted the third hole from 21 feet, two-putted the seventh from five feet, missed a three-footer for par at the eighth, two-putted the 14th from 18 feet and two-putted the 15th from 15 feet.

“My putting stroke just let me down today,” Olazabal said.

Crenshaw’s 68 included six birdies and two bogeys.

“I’m hitting enough good shots to feel pretty good about next week,” Crenshaw said of the upcoming Masters. “I played pretty well.”