Riegger Uses 63 for Lead in Florida

John Riegger completed a course-record, nine-under-par 63 in the rain-delayed first round, then added a 69 in the second Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Paul Casey in the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Fla.

Riegger, who turned pro in 1985 but is still looking for his first top-10 finish on the PGA Tour, was the clubhouse leader at 12 under when the second round was halted because of darkness.

“I’m playing well right now,” said Riegger, winless in 115 tour events. “I’m going to go out and try to continue to do the things I’ve been doing. They seem to be working pretty good right now.”

Only 52 players in the 144-man field finished 36 holes Friday. Eighteen golfers had yet to tee off in the second round, meaning the cut will not be made until today.

The final round should be completed on time Sunday, tournament officials said.

Riegger made 12 birdies, three bogeys and an eagle in 33 holes Friday. Casey was 10 under after 14 holes when the round was suspended.

Joey Sindelar, looking for his first PGA Tour win since 1990, did not make a bogey in the first two rounds and was nine under.

“I’m having feelings of a time warp here,” said Sindelar, the 1988 Honda Classic champion. “How many decades has it been since I’ve been at a Honda Classic press interview? It’s been a while.”

Neal Lancaster, Mike Sposa and J.L. Lewis were eight under, with nine others five shots off the lead at seven under.

Steve Flesch, who is three under, recorded the fifth hole in one in tournament history when he aced the 186-yard fifth hole with a five-iron.

Riegger had a chance to tie the tournament record of 62 in the first round but just missed a birdie putt on his final hole, the par-five ninth.

“I knew I was playing well, I was holing some putts, but I wasn’t thinking any particular number,” Riegger said. “Once I got it going, I was just trying to birdie every hole.”

Riegger’s best tour finish was 12th in the 1993 St. Jude Classic. This is his fifth full season on tour.

He attributed his two strong rounds to a new preshot ritual.

The 38-year-old golfer from Las Vegas repeats a few phrases to himself as he prepares for every shot. Not wanting to disclose the exact language, he says they are words of encouragement that help him stay focused.

He began the routine two weeks ago after working with a sports psychologist, and it started to pay off Friday.

“Unlike a lot of players, I have problems early in the tournament,” Riegger said. “If I get myself in a position to do well, I usually do all right. It’s just early in the tournament I have a hard time focusing. That’s pretty much what I’m working on.”

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Charlie Wi of South Korea shot a five-under 67 for a one-stroke lead over Ernie Els of South Africa after two rounds of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Wi put together nine consecutive birdies, but Els’ eagle on the final hole of the day moved him within a shot of the lead. Wi has a two-day total of nine-under 135, with Els at 136 after his second-round 68.

Els, who won here in 1994, overcame a bogey on the 14th hole with what he called one of the best shots of his career--a 213-yard second shot from the sand to 35 feet. He then made the putt for eagle.

“That shot was one of the best if not the best of my career,” said Els, who won last week’s Genuity Championship in Miami. “I am looking forward to the rest of the tournament, but a lot of guys are in there who are under par who also have a chance.”

Colin Montgomerie had a rough round, shooting a 79 for a two-day total of 150.