Stadler, Purtzer share lead

Craig Stadler spent Friday doing what he loves to do best — watching his putts disappear into the cup.

Stadler and Tom Purtzer carded 8-under-par 64s and shared the first-round lead at the Champions Tour 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn.

Sammy Rachels birdied five of the first seven holes and finished tied with Tom Kite at 65. Defending champion Wayne Levi birdied the last three holes and was alone in fourth place at 6 under. Seventeen players were within four shots of the lead at the TPC of the Twin Cities.

Stadler completed his first round with a run of four consecutive birdies, including a 61-foot putt at No. 16, and shot a 30 on the back nine.

Purtzer made the turn at 3 under, and reeled off five consecutive birdies to move into a tie for the lead with Stadler.

DiMarco takes big lead

Chris DiMarco had four birdies to complete his first round, and added nine more in the second for 31 points and a six-point lead at The International, a tournament that uses the modified Stableford scoring system.

Rain and lightning ended Thursday’s first round, forcing half the field to return Friday for up to 33 holes at hilly Castle Pines Golf Club. Two more rounds of storms hit Friday, setting up another marathon day in Castle Rock, Colo., for 72 players.

The second round will be completed this morning and the top 70 plus ties will continue on to the third round.

First-round leader Rod Pampling was second with 25 points through 11 holes of the second round.

Mallon, Jerman tied

Meg Mallon and Angela Jerman thrived before swirling winds hampered play during the second round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Playing early in the day, Mallon (69) and Jerman (68) shared the lead at 7-under 135. Tracy Hanson (70) of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Wendy Ward (72) of Edwall, Wash., are both at 143.

Putnam wins amateur tourney

Michael Putnam of University Place, Wash., won the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship with a 6-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a three-man playoff at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club. Putnam outlasted Spencer Levin of Elk Grove, Calif., and Australian Andrew Martin. All three shot 7-under 277s.

Three Spokane golfers participated in the event. David Fern finished at 292, while Alex Prugh and Eric Hastings had 296s.