Byrum on a Roll in Vegas; U.S. Swept in Dunhill Cup

Tom Byrum is stuck on a pretty nice number.

Byrum, who began the week in danger of losing his PGA Tour card, shot his third consecutive 65 under ideal conditions Friday to take a two-shot lead in the Invensys Classic at Las Vegas.

Byrum finished with five consecutive birdies to lead Billy Andrade with two rounds to play in the 90-hole tournament.

“I don’t have an explanation for it, but I’ll take it,” Byrum said.

Byrum, a stroke ahead of Blaine McCallister to start the day, played before only a handful of people at one of two courses used in the tournament and didn’t see a leaderboard all day.

When he was finished, though, he was on top of the board at 21 under. And he has no plans to change his strategy for the weekend.

“My mentality will be to not look at any scores and try to birdie every hole I play,” Byrum said.

Andrade was at 19 under after a 63, which was matched by Mike Weir as the low round of the day. Weir was another shot back at 18 under, followed by Scott McCarron and McCallister at 17 under.

Casey Martin remained in contention at 15 under, six shots back, as did Phil Mickelson, who is using the tournament as a warmup for next week’s Presidents Cup.

“You feel like if you don’t shoot eight or nine under, you’re giving one back,” Mickelson said after a 67.

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With its top players unavailable and awaiting the Presidents Cup, the United States was swept by Argentina and eliminated from the Dunhill Cup in the first round for the second consecutive year at St. Andrews, Scotland.

The United States could finish last in its group again if it loses to Japan today.

Larry Mize, a Dunhill Cup rookie, shot a 72 and lost by two strokes to Eduardo Romero. John Daly, who had a double bogey at the 17th, shot a 75 and was beaten by two strokes by Jose Coceres. Tom Lehman fell by three shots to Angel Cabrera, who had a 68.

Lehman was on the 1999 Dunhill squad that lost 3-0 to Italy and 2-1 to Sweden to finish last in the group.

“It’s very disappointing. I don’t really feel like talking about it,” said Lehman, who will play in the Presidents Cup. “It’s not what we came here for, and I’m not real pleased.”

Defending champion Spain, three-time champion South Africa, Wales and Argentina emerged as favorites to gain the semifinals.

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Undeterred by yellow jackets and a late charge by Pat Hurst, Juli Inkster shot a five-under 67 to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Samsung World Championship at Vallejo, Calif.

Inkster went to eight under for the tournament, with Hurst three strokes back and Lorie Kane five behind at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club. The $725,000 invitation-only event features only 20 players and no cut, but Inkster already leads 12 of the players by 10-15 strokes.

“By no means do I feel at ease, but I played a very solid game of golf,” Inkster said. “It’d be great to win here at home, but I’m not putting any pressure on myself.”

The yellow jackets made life miserable for everyone. Kane was stung on her right elbow, and Inkster’s caddie, Greg Johnston, was stung for the second day in a row.

“I told him to stay away from me,” Inkster said. “He’s just getting pelted out there.”

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Gil Morgan and Andy North were among five players sharing the lead at six-under 66 after the first round of the Gold Rush Classic at Sacramento.

Howard Twitty, Ed Dougherty and Bruce Summerhays also opened with 66s in the Senior PGA Tour event at Serrano Country Club.

Jim Thorpe, coming off a victory last week in the Transamerica Championship, and three-time Gold Rush winner George Archer were a stroke back at 67.

Struggling in his first year on the tour, North started with a birdie, hitting a nine-iron within six feet. He finished with three birdies on each side.

“I have played miserably for most of the summer,” the two-time U.S. Open winner said. “I stumbled on something last week and it’s getting better. This is the best round I’ve round I’ve played in a while.”