GOLF ROUNDUP : Archer, Montalbano Share Seniors Lead at 66

George Archer, who has won 29 PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour events, and Chuck Montalbano, who hasn’t won on either tour, shot six-under-par 66s Friday to share the first-round lead in the First of America Classic at Ada, Mich.

Harry Toscano and Wally Armstrong were one stroke behind in the 54-hole event at Egypt Valley Country Club. Two strokes back were Jerry McGee, Larry Laoretti, Jimmy Powell, Tommy Aaron, Graham Marsh and defending champion Tony Jacklin.

Archer, who won the Toshiba Senior Classic and Cadillac NFL Classic earlier this year, won the 1993 First of America Classic when the event was played at the Highlands.

Montalbano’s best finish in a senior tour event was a tie for 28th in the FHP Health Care Classic at Ojai in early March. He birdied No. 13 to tie Archer and finished with five pars.

“When I made my last birdie I knew I was tied for the lead because Archer was already done,” Montalbano said. “I was trying not to fall apart the last five holes. I’ve got to get the feeling like the guys that win all the time. I am learning to be calm.”

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Paul Stankowski had trouble off the tee but had his putter working to take a share of the second-round lead at the Deposit Guaranty Classic at Madison, Miss.

Stankowski had three consecutive birdies early, including a 30-foot uphill putt at the par-four, 465-yard fourth, the toughest hole at Annandale Golf Club. He had a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to finish at 10-under 134 for the tournament in a tie with Dicky Pride.

Pride followed an opening-round 66 with a 68. His birdie attempt off the fringe at 18 stopped two inches short.

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Michelle McGann, winless before 1995 but currently the LPGA’s hottest player, shot a three-under 68 to take a four-stroke lead through two rounds of the Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

McGann matched her lowest 36-hole total this year at 134 on the Wykagl Country Club course. She made a 20-foot putt on her final hole to move four strokes ahead of Caroline Pierce of England.