Perry’s Hat Trick Good For 62, L.A. Lead

Golf

Kenny Perry took in a hockey game Thursday night. “We watched the first two quarters,” he said. “It’s the first hockey game I’ve ever been to.”

It is unfortunate that Perry’s unfamiliarity with hockey caused the Kentucky native to miss the third “quarter,” which, as any hockey purist will tell you, is when the outcomes of many games are decided.

It is fortunate, though, that Perry is familiar with the game of golf, as Friday’s round of 9-under-par 62 at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles can attest. A week after winning the Bob Hope Classic, Perry is atop the leader board at the Nissan Open, 10-under for the tournament and one stroke ahead of defending champion Corey Pavin.

One shot behind Pavin - who made an afternoon run at Perry with a 5-under-par 66 - sits Bob Estes, who also had a 66 Friday.

But the day belonged to Perry, whose 62 tied a course record held by Fred Couples (1990) and Larry Mize (1985).

Perry pulled off a hat trick on his first three holes, knocking in a 20-foot eagle putt on No. 1, sinking a 15-foot putt for birdie on No. 2 and then chipping in from 15 feet for another birdie on No. 3. “I guess everything is going my way now,” Perry said.

John Daly, with a 69, was in a threesome four shots off the pace. Couples, the tournament champion in 1990 and 1992 and runnerup the past two years, shot his second straight 69 and was six shots out of the lead.

Peter Jacobsen, who won at Pebble Beach and San Diego before taking last week off, shot a second-round 71 and was 2-under for the tournament. Pullman native Kirk Triplett shot 69 and was also at 140.

Seniors

In Acapulco, Mexico, a back-nine collapse by the American team of Tom Wargo and Jim Colbert allowed Bob Charles and Graham Marsh to post the only International victory in the opening round of the Chrysler Cup senior team event.

Wargo and Marsh had a four-stroke lead after the front nine and appeared likely to give the United States a three-match lead after the opening day. But the Americans fell apart on the inward nine, combining for five bogeys and a double in staggering to a 42.

Charles and Marsh managed a 1-over 37 on the back nine to win the match by a stroke at even-par 72. The U.S. leads the Internationals 7-2 in the series.

Dunhill Challenge

In Johannesburg, South Africa, victories by Nick Price, Ernie Els, David Frost and their partners helped give Southern Africa a 6-1 lead over Australasia after the first day of the Alfred Dunhill Challenge.

The Ryder Cup-style tournament pits top players from southern Africa against a team from Australia, New Zealand and Asia.