John Cook thought about scoring 59 for a few minutes Friday. He had to settle for a 62 and a three-stroke lead at the $1.35 million St. Jude Classic.
"If there was ever a day that it could have happened to me, today was the day," Cook said of trying to match the PGA Tour's lowest score turned in by Al Geiberger in 1977 and Chip Beck in 1991.Six straight birdies and 10 on the day had Cook at 9-under par with five holes left.
Then he hit his drive in a hole and realized his first victory since 1992 would mean more. He parred his way out and finished with a 9-under-par 62 and two-day total of 16-under 126 for a three-stroke lead over John Adams.
"I ran off the green and wanted to sign my card as quick as I could," said Cook, who hasn't won on the tour since 1992 when he took three tournaments.
Cook's two-round total 126 matches the tour record for the first 36 holes set by Paul Azinger in 1989 at the Texas Open and Tommy Bolt in 1954 at the Virginia Beach Open.
Adams, who has never won on the PGA Tour, shot a 64 that kept him at 13-under and 129 total in the tournament sponsored by FedEx.
Nike Tour player Patrick Lee, who shared a four-way lead with Cook after the first round, shot a 67 and was tied with Kenny Perry five strokes back at 131. Stuart Appleby was at 10-under 132.
U.S. Open winner Steve Jones (3-under) was among those surviving the cut at 2-under with Curtis Strange and Davis Love III.
Senior - Bell Atlantic
MALVERN, Pa. - With a little advice from the clubhouse chef, Bobby Stroble shot a 3-under-par 67 for a share of the first-round lead Friday in the Senior PGA Tour's $900,000 Bell Atlantic Classic.
Stroble, a rookie on the 50-and-over tour, was tied with Rick Acton and Tom Wargo after a hot, hazy and sun-drenched day at the Chester Valley Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia.
Gary Player, John Schroeder, John Jacobs and Vicente Fernandez, who had six birdies and four bogeys, were one stroke behind. Six golfers, including defending champion Jim Colbert, were two shots back.
Chi Chi Rodriguez was at even par, two-time Bell Atlantic champion Lee Trevino and Isao Aoki were 1-over, and Ray Floyd posted a 4-over 74.
Stroble used a unique recipe for success in his first-ever round on the hilly, narrow and rain-soaked 6,608-yard course.
"I talked last night with the chef, and I don't know what his handicap is, but he took care of me," Stroble said. "He said to try and stay below the hole, not to charge it. That's what I tried to do."
LPGA - Rochester
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Amy Fruhwirth finished with a 4-under-par 68 with a birdie to grab a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the rain-shortened Rochester International.
Fruwirth, who hasn't won in four years on the LPGA circuit, jumped ahead of 10-time tour winner Dottie Pepper, Michelle Estill, Lori West and Ellie Gibson. West and Gibson, like Fruhwirth, have yet to win a tournament.
"Maybe the unknown players just don't know any better," Fruhwirth said with a laugh. "You just can't count anybody out."
After an early surge, Peruvian-born Alicia Dibos ended with a 2-under-par 70. In the group at 1-under was Rosie Jones, who won here in 1991 and lost a playoff in 1984.
On Thursday, a day-long downpour washed out the first round, shortening the tournament to 54 holes. The sun returned Friday, but a helicopter was still needed to dry parts of soggy Locust Hill Country Club course.
Defending champion Patty Sheehan, aiming for her fifth victory here in eight years, shot 72, as did two-time U.S. Open champion Annika Sorenstam of Sweden.
Curtis Cup
KILLARNEY, Ireland - The Britain-Ireland team took a huge step toward keeping the Curtis Cup on Friday, winning four of the six singles matches for a 6-3 lead over the United States on the first day of the biennial match-play women's amateur golf event.
The two teams split the morning foursomes matches - each picking up 11/2 points - but Britain-Ireland won 41/2 points in singles to 11/2 for the Americans.
American Sarah LeBrun Ingram defeated Julie Hall 4 and 2, and teammate Marla Jemsek halved with Elaine Ratcliffe for the only points for the United States.
Celebrity Golf
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Mario Lemieux, who was named the NHL's MVP earlier this week, and former NFL quarterback John Brodie each shot a 2-under-par 70 Friday to share the first-round lead in the Celebrity Golf Association's Chicago Classic.
Lemieux, who played with Michael Jordan on the 6,690-yard course at White Eagle Golf Club, appeared unaffected by the accompanying press that tagged along.
"It was difficult at times," Lemieux said. "I told Michael this morning I thought I was coming to Chicago to have a nice, quiet round."
Jordan, playing in his first competitive golf event of the year, scored 9-over 45 on his front side and finished at 18-over 90.
"I've got a built-in excuse, and I'll use it today," said Jordan, whose Bulls won the NBA championship Sunday. "I was just trying to keep it in play and not hit anybody."
Defending champion Rick Rhoden opened with a 3-over 75.