Golf Roundup : Charles Has One-Shot Lead in Shortened Senior Event

Bob Charles sank a 27-foot putt on the final hole to take a one-stroke lead in Saturday’s second round of the flood-shortened Northville golf tournament at Jericho, N.Y.

For the second consecutive day, the seniors played 16 holes instead of 18 because the ninth and 14th holes of the par-72, 6,595-yard Meadow Brook Club were flooded.

Charles, the leading money-winner on the Senior PGA Tour, shot a 59 for a total of 119. First-round leader Butch Baird had a 62 and George Lanning a 61 to tie for second place at 120.

Defending champion Don Bies shot a 62 for a 121 total. He was tied with Bob Boldt, who had a 60. Lou Graham, who also shot a 60, was tied at 122 with Orville Moody and Frank Beard, both of whom had 63s.

Lanning, 56, the other left-hander on the senior tour besides Charles, never played on the regular PGA Tour.

“I’m in my third career” said Lanning, who retired as a master sergeant after 21 years in the Air Force, then was a club pro in Tacoma, Wash., for another 16 years.

“You won’t find me complaining. I didn’t start playing golf until I was 22. Now, I’m making a good living and having the most fun of all my careers.”

Betsy King shot her second consecutive three-under-par 69 to tie Ok-Hee Ku for the second-round lead at 138 in the LPGA’s Lady Keystone Open at Hershey, Pa.

Ku had a 70.

Liselotte Neumann was one shot back, and Pat Bradley and Laura Davies were next at 140.

Patty Sheehan, Marta Figueras-Dotti, Danielle Ammaccapane, Beth Daniel and Mei-Chi Cheng were at 141. Missie Berteotti, who had a 66 for the first-round lead, shot a 76 and fell to 142.