Els Turns a 63 Into Big Lead

Ernie Els, stringing together brilliant streaks with a little luck, opened a four-shot lead over Dan Forsman in the Buick Open with a second-round 63 on Friday.

Els had a 13-under-par total of 131 at Grand Blanc, Mich. Forsman, whose last victory on the PGA Tour came in the 1992 Buick Open, shot 67 for 135.

John Morse, Chris Perry, Brad Fabel, Lanny Wadkins, Hal Sutton and Allen Doyle were at 136. Fabel, winless on the PGA Tour, and Doyle each shot 67. Morse, Perry, Wadkins and Sutton shot 69s.

Els pitched in twice--once for an eagle--at Warwick Hills Country Club, about 60 miles north of Detroit.

“It’s not often you can turn a round like that, you know,” Els said. “Yesterday, I let a 63 become a 68. Today, I turned a 68 into a 63. So, I’m happy about that.”

Surprising first-round leader Sonny Skinner followed his opening 62 with a 76 for 138.

*

Jose Maria Canizares of Spain, a veteran of the European PGA Tour playing in only his fifth Senior PGA tournament, shot a course-record eight-under 64 for the first-round lead in the $1-million Northville Long Island Classic at Jericho, N.Y.

Canizares, who turned 50 in February, entered the tournament with a sponsor’s exemption and repaid the favor with an eagle and seven birdies against one bogey on the 6,842-yard Meadow Brook Club course.

Hubert Green, winless in his rookie season after 26 years on the PGA Tour, shot a 65.

*

Pat Hurst hacked her way out of the sand on the way to a three-under 69 and a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Friendly’s Classic at Agawam, Mass.

“Just making a sand save helps your confidence a lot,” Hurst said after reaching the tournament’s midway point at five-under 139.

Chris Johnson shot a par 72 over the Crestview Country Club course and was at 140.

*

Robin Burke of Houston and Silvia Cavalleri of Italy converted solid play around the greens into berths in the championship match of the 97th USGA Women’s Amateur Championship at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Mass.

Burke defeated Heather Graff of Kennewick, Wash., 3 and 2, and Cavalleri defeated Andrea Baxter of Eagle, Idaho, 2 and 1.

Burke’s husband, Jack Burke Jr., won the PGA championship 41 years ago down the street at Blue Hill Country Club.

Golf Notes

Amateurs from the United States face their counterparts from Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup, which begins today at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y. . . . Ben Crenshaw says he will undergo foot surgery after playing in the PGA Championship next week and will miss the rest of the golf season.