Scotland takes solid lead in world golf competition

Press, 21 November 1987, Page 96

Scotland takes solid lead in world golf competition

NZPA-Reuter Kapalua, Hawaii

Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance overcame horrible playing conditions yesterday to give Scotland a solid lead after 36 holes of the $U5750,000 World Cup of Golf. Despite strong winds and heavy rain, Lyle shot a three-under-par 69 and Torrance added a 71 for a total of 283, five under par for two rounds over the 6761-yard Kapalua Bay Golf Club course. They held a threestroke lead over the Americans, Ben Crenshaw and Payne Stewart, the first-round leaders. The Scottish side could have had an even greater lead, but Torrance bo-

geyed the final hole when he hooked his tee shot out ' of bounds. “Yesterday on the eighteenth tee Sandy told me not to hook it — he didn’t tell me today,” Torrance quipped after the round. Lyle’s 69 gave him a 36hole total of 137 and tied him with lan Woosnam of Wales for the lead in the individual competition for the International Trophy. Woosnam added a 70 to his opening 67 to stay abreast of Lyle. However, his partner, David Llewellyn, continued to struggle. He managed only a 75 and the Welsh team stood at even par 288, five shots behind the leaders. Ireland, which was just

'one shot off the lead after the first round, also faltered. It was tied with Wales at 288 after Ronan Rafferty’s fine 71 was negated by a 76 by Eamnon Darcy. Sweden and Australia both made fine showings and they were tied at 287, one better than Ireland and Wales. Mats Lanner scored a 71 for Sweden while Ove Sellberg contributed a 73. Those scores were matched by the Australians, Rodger Davis and Ossie Moore, respectively. Despite the adverse conditions, Woosnam, the top player on the European P.G.A. Tour this year, played extremely well, but he just could not

get his birdie putts to drop.

Canada, the defending champion, was tied with Japan and Argentina at 289, one over par. The next closest was Taiwan at 292.

Koichi Suzuki shot 70 for Japan, as did Y. S. Hsieh for Taiwan. Eduardo Romero carded a 71 tor Argentina. England, which was just two shots off the lead after the first round, fell 12 shots behind when Howard Clark staggered to a 77 and Mark James shot 76.

They were at 295, one shot behind New Zealand, whose Frank Nobilo had a fine 71.