Pavin Takes Lead at Colonial

Corey Pavin says his confidence has been quietly building the last six months. Put him on a course where he feels like a champion, and even he wasn’t surprised to see his name atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the MasterCard Colonial at Fort Worth.

Threading his shots through tree-lined fairways, Pavin looked like a former U.S. Open champion with a six-under-par 64 Friday, which gave him a one-stroke lead over John Cook, who shot 66.

“It’s only a matter of time before I win again,” said Pavin, a two-time Colonial winner who was at seven-under 133 and in position to end the worst slump of his career. He hasn’t won on the tour since his victory here in 1996.

Perhaps the most surprising round was Phil Mickelson’s. He finished with three consecutive birdies for a 63 that left him two strokes behind, tied with Scott Hoch, who had a 66; Billy Mayfair, 67, and Joe Durant, 66.

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Jack Nicklaus, playing his first competitive round in nearly a year, shot a two-over 74 in the first round of the PGA Senior Bell Atlantic Classic at Avondale, Pa.

Nicklaus is playing in his first tournament since the U.S. Senior Open in July and his hip replacement operation in January.

Frank Conner shot a six-under 66 for a two-stroke lead.

“I didn’t think I would be quite as peaceful as I was shooting a 74,” Nicklaus said. “Accepting 74 has never been one of my strong suits.”

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Akiko Fukushima’s three-under 67 kept her atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the inaugural LPGA Philips Invitational at Austin, Texas, where Beth Daniel set a tour record with nine consecutive birdies.

Daniel’s birdie binge gave her an eight-under 62 and left her tied for second with Pearl Sinn at eight-under 132, one stroke behind Fukushima.

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Ernie Els, playing for the first time since the Masters five weeks ago, took a share of the first-round lead at the Deutsche Bank Open at Heidelberg, Germany, with a six-under 66. Tiger Woods had a 69 in his debut in a European PGA Tour event on the continent.

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Ford Olinger, an Indiana golf pro who lost his court battle with the U.S. Golf Assn. said he’ll still play in a local qualifier for the U.S. Open. A judge’s ruling Thursday bars the disabled golfer from using a cart. . . . Peter Thomson, captain of the International team that defeated the United States in the Presidents Cup last year, agreed to return for the 2000 match.

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In Front

Leaders through Friday’s play (Complete scores, Page 11)

MASTERCARD COLONIAL--PAR 70

Corey Pavin: 69-64--133 -7

John Cook: 68-66--134 -6

Three tied at: -5

LPGA PHILIPS INVITATIONAL--PAR 70

Akiko Fukushima: 64-67--131 -9

Beth Daniel: 70-62--132 -8

Pearl Sinn: 66-66--132 -8

Charlotta Sorenstam: 69-65--134 -6

BELL ATLANTIC CLASSIC--PAR 72

Frank Conner: 33-33--66 -6

Jim Holtgrieve: 34-34--68 -4

Rocky Thompson: 35-33--68 -4

Jim Thorpe: 34-34--68 -4