Golf Roundup : McCumber, Azinger Share Lead

Mark McCumber, wearing a corset and battling an aching back, moved into a tie for the lead with Paul Azinger at 135 Friday in the $1-million Western Open golf tournament at Oak Brook, Ill.

McCumber shot a five-under-par 67, while Azinger had a 68 over the 7,097 Butler National course.

Chip Beck, the first-round leader, was one stroke behind after a 71. Leonard Thompson was next at 137, one shot ahead of Greg Norman, Peter Jacobsen and Russ Cochran.

Loren Roberts had the best round of the day, a 66 that put him at 139 with Ray Stewart, Blaine McCallister, Mark Wiebe and Larry Mize.

McCumber, who withdrew from Wednesday’s pro-am because of his back problems, said he took ice and electrical treatments during the night.

McCumber started his round with a birdie and an eagle three on the second hole. He bogeyed the ninth and 10th, then came back with three more birdies.

Azinger had a steady round with four birdies, all on par-five holes.

Nancy Lopez made a run at front-runner Betsy King by shooting a 67 in the $600,000 LPGA du Maurier tournament at Montreal, but King maintained a one-stroke lead at 136 after 36 holes.

Tammie Green matched King’s round of 69 to hold second place at 137.

Lopez, who returned to the women’s tour after a three-week absence to be with her ailing father in New Mexico, made seven birdies and two bogeys to move into a tie with Deb Richard for third place at 139. Richard shot a 70.

Amy Alcott was tied at 140 with Jane Geddes, Laura Davies and Beth Daniel.

Green, seeking her first win in three years on the tour, rebounded from a double bogey on No. 3 with a birdie on the next hole.

“The course is getting a little dried out, so the balls were rolling and going farther,” said the 33-year-old King, who won the 18th tournament of her career last week and is seeking her second major victory after winning the 1987 Dinah Shore.

“If I was the groundskeeper, I’d start watering things out there. There’s enough brown out there without letting the rest of the course go brown.”

Jan Stephenson withdrew from the tournament without explanation, as did Dot Germain and Laurie Rinker, who cited injuries.

At Chantilly, France, Seve Ballesteros shot a six-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the second round of the $472,000 French Open tournament.

Six birdies in an eight-hole stretch propelled the Spaniard into the lead at 135.

Eight other players were tied for second place at 136.

Ballesteros will defend his British Open title at Troon, Scotland, July 20-23. “I’m ready,” he said. “I feel as good as last year.”