Paulson getting a good feel for St. Andrews

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Dennis Paulson of Santa Ana Country Club

and formerly of Costa Mesa High continued his torrid pace at the 129th

British Open Friday, shooting 1-under-par 71 to finish two rounds at

5-under on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Tiger Woods (Big Canyon Country Club) leads the field by three shots

at 11-under, followed by David Toms and three players at 7-under.

Paulson, who ended the second round tied for 11th, shot 4-under 68 in

the first round.

Paulson this year led at the Masters in the first round and later won

his first PGA Tour event, the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y., in a

playoff.

A 1980 Costa Mesa graduate who is building a house in Encinitas that

is expected to be completed this summer, Paulson is a former national

long-drive champion whose golf game is well-suited for St. Andrews’

historic links.

With barely a hint of breeze, and sunshine that made it feel more like

Southern California than the edge of the North Sea, players continued

their assault at the home of golf, where even 112 deep bunkers didn’t

disrupt scoring.

Gentle winds helped golf’s most hallowed course play even easier than

the first day, when the stroke average was 72.9. On Friday, the average

dropped to 72.1.