Golf Roundup : Hot Putter Puts Pooley on Record Pace at Sutton

Don Pooley used a hot putter Friday to shoot a six-under par 65 for a course record of 131 for 36 holes in the $700,000 Bank of Boston tournament at Sutton, Mass.

Pooley, who has won just two tournaments while earning nearly $2 million in 14 years on the pro tour, took a two-stroke lead over Brad Faxon in the 72-hole tournament at Pleasant Valley Country Club.

Trailing co-leaders John Mahaffey, Steve Pate, J.C. Snead and Jim Thorpe by one stroke after a first-day 66, Pooley broke ahead quickly.

Starting on the 10th tee in a light rain after a heavy downpour during the night, he sank eight birdie putts from four inches to 40 feet to offset two bogeys. He shot 32-33 on the par 36-35--71, 7,110-yard course.

After beating the 36-hole course record of 133 set by Mark Hayes in 1978 and equaled by George Burns in 1985, Pooley let other standouts in the field of 156 take their best shot at his 11-under par score.

Pate took a 70 for 135, Thorpe soared to 74 for 139, both in the morning. In the afternoon, Mahaffey, the 1978 champion, fell back to 136 after a 71, while Snead birdied his last hole for a 69 and 134.

Faxon, tied with Pooley at 66 after the first round, made his move as the sun broke through occasionally in the afternoon.

He got off to “a great start” with birdies on the first two holes. He added three more birdies against one bogey for 67 and a halfway score of 133.

Wayne Levi, the 1980 Pleasant Valley champion, and Blaine McCallister were tied at 134 with Snead. Levi shot a 66 while McCallister matched his opening 67.

Defending champion Mark Calcavecchia, who hung on to win by one stroke in 1988 as Pooley fell one stroke short with a course-equaling 63, shot a second-round 68 to tie Pate and Fuzzy Zoeller at 135, four strokes back. Zoeller had 67 to go with his opening 68.

Jim Dent shot a seven-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the $350,000 Crestar PGA Seniors tournament at Richmond, Va.

“I chipped in on the first hole and never looked back,” said Dent, who leads the tour in driving distance yet had two chip-in birdies and another chip shot that set up a birdie.

Dent, who has won twice on the senior circuit since he became eligible in May, had nines of 31 and 34 to take a one-stroke lead over Chi Chi Rodriguez, New Zealand’s Bob Charles and Dick Rhyan.

Jim Ferree was next at 67, followed by Al Geiberger at 68.

Four players are at 69 with defending champion Arnold Plamer one of 10 players at 70.

Cindy Rarick and Pat Bradley shared the lead after two rounds of the $300,000 Safeco women’s tournament at Kent, Wash.

Rarick fired a 69 Friday, and Bradley shot a 67.

Their seven-under-par 137 totals for 36 holes on the 6,222-yard Meridian Valley Country Club course, left them one stroke ahead of Beth Daniel and Danielle Ammaccapane. Defending champion Juli Inkster (71) was next at 139.