Lopez Birdies Final Hole for Four-Under 68 and 2-Shot Lead in LPGA Opener in Florida

Nancy Lopez sank a 10-foot birdie putt on her final hole Friday for a four-under-par 68 and a two-shot lead midway through the $200,000 Mazda tournament.

The second round of the tournament, the first on the 1988 LPGA Tour, was delayed 80 minutes just after the start because of early morning fog. About 30 players failed to finish their rounds before nightfall because of the delay and are to complete them this morning.

Lopez has a two-round total of 137, seven under par. First-round leader Patti Rizzo and Betsy King were tied for second at 139. Rizzo shot a 72, and King a 68.

Trish Johnson was at five-under with two holes to play today.

Tied at 140 through two rounds were Jody Rosenthal (71), Missy McGeorge (72), Dawn Coe (68) and Marta Figueras Dotti of Spain (70).

U.S. Open champion Laura Davies of Britain shot 73 and was in danger of missing the cut, at 149.

Hall of Famer JoAnne Carner qualified at 145, and defending champion Kathy Postlewait made it at 143, but both had a long way to go to catch Lopez.

“I’m usually a slow starter,” Lopez said after her round over the par-72, 6,368-yard Stonebridge Golf and Country Club course. “But after the way I played in Jamaica (in December), my momentum is still good, and I have a lot of confidence starting out the year--probably more than usual.”

The LPGA Hall of Famer collected $250,000 for teaming with Miller Barber to win the $850,000 Mazda Champions event Dec. 20.