Golf Roundup : Ballesteros (66) Is One of Five Leaders at 137

Spain’s Severiano Ballesteros opened with an eagle en route to a bogey-free round of 66 and moved into a five-way tie for the lead Friday after two rounds of the $1-million Doral Open golf tournament at Miami.

Ballesteros, who has won two Masters and a couple of British Open titles, completed two trips over the windswept Blue Monster course at the Doral Country Club in 137, seven under par.

“I feel like I played very good,” Ballesteros said.

“I have my game almost there. Not quite, but almost,” he said.

Ballesteros needed only a 5-iron second shot to reach the green on the 514-yard first hole and dropped a 10-foot putt for an eagle. He rolled in a 20-footer on No. 6 and got his other three birdies after hitting irons inside of four feet.

He was tied for the lead with Bernhard Langer of West Germany, Fred Couples, Lennie Clements and Larry Rinker.

Rinker had an erratic round of 71 that included five bogeys, four birdies and an eagle. Langer, the first-round leader, could do no better than match par 72 in the strong, gusty winds. Clements moved up with a 68. Couples got his share of the top spot with a 64, the best round of the tournament.

Bill Rogers, a former British Open champion attempting to dig his way out of a lengthy slump, had a 67 that lifted him within a single stroke of the lead at 138.

The group at 139 included Tony Sills, Tom Sieckmann, Don Pooley and Mark Calcavecchia.

Masters champion Jack Nicklaus, who now regards himself as a part-time PGA Tour player, shot a 74 and reached the tournament halfway point at 143.

“I felt after my finish at the (1986) Masters I was in the position to leave the tour on a high note,” he said. “I don’t consider myself a tour regular any more.

“I’d be kidding myself if I think I can compete against these kids by playing on a part-time basis.”

Nicklaus, who was the oldest golfer to win the Masters at 46, said he still plans on playing “10ish” tournaments this year, down from 15 in 1986, and will be in all the majors.

Nicklaus said a big reason for the cutback is his age.

“It’s not something I want to do, but it probably makes sense for me,” he said.

Nicklaus said he would play again in the Honda tournament at Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., next week.

“If I decide I didn’t get what I wanted, I’ll change my mind and play the Tournament Players Championship (March 26 at Ponte Vedra, Fla.) as a final warm-up for the Masters,” he said.

Nicklaus was a little unhappy with his game after his two-over-par round Friday.

“I bogeyed Nos. 6 and 7 and wanted to give myself a swift kick,” Nicklaus said. “I’m not going to come out here week after week and get irritated with myself.”

Cathy Kratzert Gerring overcame strong gusty winds and a rally by Jane Geddes to build a three-stroke lead midway through the $300,000 LPGA Women’s Kemper Open at Princeville, Hawaii.

Gerring shot a four-under-par 68 to complete 36 holes at 134, 10 under par on the Princeville Makai course on the island of Kauai. Geddes was at 137 after a 70.

At 139 was Ayako Okamoto after a 70, while Juli Inkster was at 140 after a 67.

Peggy Hammel, Alice Ritzman, Louri Peterson, Muffin Spencer-Devlin and JoAnne Carner were at 141.