GOLF / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMATEUR : Woods Takes 36-Hole Lead With Rounds of 68 and 70

Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel might have been the loneliest co-leader in the history of the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship.

His morning round of 68 at Hacienda Golf Club on Friday tied him for the early lead, a position he might have hoped would draw him a small gallery for his afternoon round.

But not when the other 68 belonged to Tiger Woods, the three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion from Cypress.

At least 25 Woods fans, some wearing “Team Tiger” T-shirts, followed the 18-year-old through his afternoon round, and Woods brought in an even-par 70 to lead the tournament at the halfway point at two-under 138.

Richardson wilted in the afternoon heat to shoot a 77 for a 145 total.

Left to chase Woods through the final rounds today and Sunday are a group of five bunched at par and one over.

Closest is Mark Johnson of Helendale, who had rounds of 70-70 to finish at 140, tied with Tom Kroll of San Marcos, who shot rounds of 71-69 in his first appearance in the tournament.

Tied at 141 are Don Baker of Canoga Park, Chad Wright of Ventura and Charlie Wi of North Hills.

Kroll credited his putting for his afternoon improvement.

“I’ve been putting so good the last couple weeks it’s scary. I just came from the public links championships, and those greens were real slick,” Kroll said. “These are a little slower and they were tamped down in the afternoon.”