GOLF ROUNDUP : COOK IS STILL COOKIN' WITH 62 IN MEMPHIS.

Byline: Associated Press

John Cook thought about scoring 59 for a few minutes Friday. He had to settle for a 62 and a three-stroke lead at the $1.35 million St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

``If there was ever a day that it could have happened to me, today was the day,'' Cook said of trying to match the PGA Tour's lowest score turned in by Al Geiberger in 1977 and Chip Beck in 1991.

Six straight birdies and 10 on the day had Cook at 9-under par with five holes left.

Then he hit his drive in a hole and realized his first victory since 1992 would mean more. He parred his way out and finished with a nine-under-par 62 and two-day total of 16-under 126 for a three-stroke lead over John Adams.

``I ran off the green and wanted to sign my card as quick as I could,'' said Cook, who hasn't won on the tour since 1992 when he took three titles.

Cook's two-round total 126 matches the tour record for the first 36 holes set by Paul Azinger in 1989 at the Texas Open and Tommy Bolt in 1954 at the Virginia Beach Open.

Adams, who has never won on the PGA Tour, shot a 64 that kept him at 13-under and 129 total in the tournament.

Fruhwirth in front: Amy Fruhwirth finished with a 4-under-par 68 with a birdie to grab a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the rain-shortened Rochester International in Rochester, N.Y.

Fruhwirth, who hasn't won in four years on the LPGA circuit, jumped ahead of 10-time tour winner Dottie Pepper, Michelle Estill, Lori West and Ellie Gibson. West and Gibson, like Fruhwirth, have yet to win a tournament.

Stroble gets help: With a little advice from the clubhouse chef, Bobby Stroble shot a 3-under-par 67 for a share of the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Tour's $900,000 Bell Atlantic Classic at Malvern, Pa.

Stroble, a rookie on the 50-and-older tour, was tied with Rick Acton and Tom Wargo after a hot, hazy and sun-drenched day at the Chester Valley Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia.

Gary Player, John Schroeder, John Jacobs and Vicente Fernandez, who had six birdies and four bogeys, were one stroke behind.

Stroble used a unique recipe for success in his first-ever round on the hilly, narrow and rain-soaked 6,608-yard course.

``I talked last night with the chef, and I don't know what his handicap is, but he took care of me,'' Stroble said. ``He said to try and stay below the hole, not to charge it. That's what I tried to do.''

State senior title decided: Paul Spengler closed with a 75 and an 8-over-par 224 to win the fifth annual California Golf Association State Senior Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

Local finishers included Ralph Rubenstein, Encino (77-74-79 - 230); Warren Ashmann, Burbank (80-76-76 - 232); Robert Foote, Agoura (79-79-77 - 235); Paul Ladin, Thousand Oaks (80-78-79 - 237).

U.S. women trail: The Britain-Ireland team took a huge step toward keeping the Curtis Cup, winning four of the six singles matches for a 6-3 lead over the United States in Killarney, Ire., on the first day of the biennial match-play women's amateur tournament.

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Photo

Photo: John Cook, who holds a three-stroke lead, watches on e of his putts roll toward the cup.

Associated Press