Irwin’s Course-Record 62: ‘Very, Very Good’

As if Hale Irwin’s record-setting round wasn’t enough, he has some bad news for the rest of the field in the Senior PGA Ameritech Senior Open at Long Grove, Ill.

He can play even better.

“I did a lot of very, very good things,” Irwin said after shooting a 10-under-par 62 Friday. “But it was not a day that was flawless.”

It may not have been flawless, but it was close. Irwin, the Senior PGA Tour’s money leader, had nine birdies through 12 holes.

His score broke the Kemper Lakes Golf Club record of 63, shot by Walter Morgan in 1996, the first year the tournament was held at Long Grove. It also tied the overall tournament record set by Joe Jimenez in 1995.

Joe Inman, who qualified for the Senior PGA Tour last year after 11 years away from competitive golf, was three strokes behind with a 65.

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Paul Goydos of Long Beach and Doug Tewell matched opening-round 66s to share the lead midway through the PGA Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic at Madison, Miss.

At 12-under 132, they are one ahead of Fred Funk, who shot a 64, the best score of the day.

The lift, clean and place rule remained in effect for shots in the fairways after the Annandale Golf Club received six consecutive days of rain before the tournament.

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Annika Sorenstam birdied three of the last four holes, the last two after a 94-minute weather delay, and shot a five-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA JAL Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

Meg Mallon, who eagled the same hole for the second consecutive day, also had a 66 and was alone in second at eight-under 134.

Se Ri Pak, who has won the last two tournaments, had a 69 and was at 141.

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Trevor Immelman of South Africa and Jason Dufner of Olmsted Falls, Ohio, advanced to the final of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the South Course at Torrey Pines.

Immelman defeated Todd Rose of Fresno on the 19th hole and Dufner eliminated Wil Collins of Rapid City, S.D., 3 and 2, in the semifinals. Dufner also defeated Robert Sul of Torrance, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals.