Browne tops Senior Open

Associated Press

TOLEDO

Olin Browne followed a record-tying 64 with a solid 69 on Friday, to take a one-shot lead over a talent-laden leaderboard in the rain-delayed second round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Browne, who led by two strokes after matching the tournament’s low first-round score, had a double-bogey and a bogey but added five birdies — including 3s on the two closing par 4s. He is at 9-under 133.

Mark O’Meara (68) was one shot back, with Mark Calcavecchia (67), Joey Sindelar (66) and Michael Allen (69) at 135. Peter Senior (67) was three back, with Corey Pavin (69), Trevor Dodds (69) and Kiyoshi Murota (69) at 137.

A 2-hour, 45-minute rain delay in the morning prevented the last seven threesomes from finishing the second round. Play was suspended by darkness, with those left on the course returning early today.

Among the other household names within six shots of the lead were John Huston, Larry Nelson, Jeff Sluman, Jay Haas, Nick Price, Steve Pate, Tom Kite, Bernhard Langer and Russ Cochran, the winner of last week’s Senior British Open.

Browne was level par through his first 16 holes, but then hit a 6-iron from 185 yards to 5 feet at 17 for birdie. At the final hole, he hit a big drive which left him only 86 yards to the green. His wedge came to rest 6 feet from the hole before he hit another short putt.

O’Meara, winner of the 1998 Masters and British Open, escaped a couple of wayward shots to remain on Browne’s heels. He made a slight change in his swing on Tuesday after flying home from England.

Calcavecchia, who won the 1989 British Open, is in his second full year on the Champions Tour. His 67 featured four birdies.

Allen and Sindelar, among the last players to conclude the second round before darkness fell, took different routes to the same 36-hole score. Allen pulled even at 9 under with Browne only to bogey two of the final three holes. Sindelar, who played his collegiate golf at Ohio State, birdied the last two holes in a 66 that matched the low round of the day.