Golf Roundup : Calcavecchia Makes It 3-Way Tie for Lead in Invitational

Mark Calcavecchia, one of golf’s best comeback performers in 1986, opened the new year by shooting a three-under-par 67 Thursday to move into a three-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the $250,000 Spalding Invitational tournament being played at three courses in the Carmel/Monterey area.

Calcavecchia, 49-year-old Al Geiberger and Ron Stelten all had 36-hole totals of 134 after playing their second rounds on the par-70 Carmel Valley Ranch course. Geiberger had a 69, and Stelten, a Californian who played on the European tour last year, had a 68.

They will play today at Pebble Beach, the toughest of the courses used in the non-tour event, while fourth-place Duffy Waldorf will be playing on the par-71 Carmel Valley Country Club course. Waldorf, who recently qualified for the PGA Tour, had a 70 Thursday at Pebble Beach for a 135 total.

Scott Verplank, overcoming 35-m.p.h. gusts, shot a six-under-par 66 to take a three-shot lead in the first round of the $250,000 FILA Invitational pro-am at Fort Myers, Fla.

Bernhard Langer, of West Germany, Davis Love III and Hale Irwin were tied for second place in the 12-player professional field at 69.