It’s Stockton’s Turn in U.S. Senior Open

Bob Charles woke up Friday to see Dave Stockton pass him and take the lead in the U.S. Senior Open at Canterbury Golf Club, just outside Cleveland.

Charles, who had a 66 in the tournament’s first round, fell to 72--even par--and Stockton made four long birdie putts on the back nine, including a 22-footer on the final hole, to shoot a five-under-par 67.

That put Stockton at 137 at the tournament’s midpoint, a shot ahead of Charles.

No one else was within four strokes of the lead and only 11 players were under par.

“It was just a miserable day from the first hole to the last,” said Charles, who had a three-shot lead as the day started. “I had a dream round yesterday and today was a bit of a nightmare.”

Third are John Bland, who matched Stockton’s 67, and Jay Sigel, both at 141.

Playing in the same group, Charles and Stockton traded big shots all day as the momentum swung back and forth.

At No. 18, Stockton hit a five-iron approach below the hole, and Charles put his four-iron into the left bunker. Charles blasted out to 10 feet and made bogey for the two-stroke swing that put Stockton on top.

“It was a pleasure to watch a master craftsman at work on the greens like that,” Charles said. “He was quite incredible. He drained everything he looked at.”

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For 13 holes, Steve Stricker snapped at Nicki, his wife and caddie, and then he had four birdies and an eagle on the final five holes for a three-under-par 69 that put him at 134, good for a one-shot lead in the Western Open at Lemont, Ill.

Lee Janzen was one stroke behind and Justin Leonard reached the midway point two back in the tournament that so far has been played without its usual strong winds.

Davis Love III, Joe Ozaki, Jeff Maggert and Jeff Sluman were three behind and John Daly headed a six-player group at 138.

Greg Norman and Nick Faldo were among those who couldn’t make the cut of one-under 143.

Stricker was seven under par until he double-bogeyed No. 7. He also bogeyed No. 9. After he three-putted 13 for a bogey, he said, “I was almost over the edge.”

Nicki told him not to give up, but Stricker wasn’t interested in her optimism.

“My fuse is pretty short. I kind of snapped at her,” Stricker said. “I didn’t yell. I just was so angry and I wanted to play so well that I was getting a little testy.”

Well-known caddie Jeff “Squeeky” Medlen, who teamed up with Nick Price and Daly for four major championship victories, learned Friday that he has leukemia.

Medlen, 42, said he would probably have chemotherapy, and possibly a bone marrow transplant with his brother, if they were compatible.

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Meg Mallon birdied two of the last three holes and finished with a six-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Jamie Farr Kroger Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.

Mallon, a two-time winner this year, had seven birdies and one bogey in her round.

Catrin Nilsmark was alone in second after a bogey-free round, and Renee Heiken, Alecia Dibos and Nanci Bowen were tied for third with 67s.

Heiken had the lowest nine-hole score on the LPGA Tour this season, recording a six-under 28 on the front nine. She had six birdies and three pars on the opening nine.

Joan Pitcock, Julie Piers, Juli Inkster and Cindy Figg Currier each shot 68s.