Golf Roundup : Tim Simpson Leads Hartford by One Stroke With a 64

Tim Simpson, who has been struggling the past two months, shot a seven-under-par 64 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of the $700,000 Canon Greater Hartford Open golf tournament at Cromwell, Conn.

Tom Watson, in quest of his first victory since 1984; Denis Watson, and Dan Forsman each shot a 65 to tie for second place behind Simpson, who had seven birdies and no bogeys on the 6,786-yard Tournament Players Club of Connecticut course.

Chip Beck, Roger Maltbie and Kenny Knox each shot a 66, while John Mahaffey, John McComish, Mike McCullough, Mark McCumber and Paul Azinger each had a 67.

Bob Murphy, who won the Canadian Open last week, shot a 69.

Simpson, who has had problems since his third-place finish in the Tournament Players Championship in March, credited a one-week layoff for his rejuvenation.

“It was probably the most solid round I’ve shot all year,” said Simpson, who missed the cut in the U.S. Open three weeks ago. “If I wasn’t rested, I’d have probably shot a 74 like I had been doing.”

Tom Watson, who fell from his status as the game’s dominant player last year when he failed to win a tournament, said he regained his putting stroke as he had eight birdies and just two bogeys.

“I made the putts you have to make to shoot a 65,” Watson said. “Today’s score would probably have been a 67 or 68 the way I was putting before. Today, I made the putts a la Tom Watson.”

Amy Benz overcame wilting heat and humidity to shoot a five-under-par 67 and take a two-stroke lead in the first round of the $300,000 Mazda LPGA Hall of Fame tournament at Sugar Land, Tex.

Midafternoon temperatures of 94 degrees coupled with 58% humidity forced Bonnie Lauer to withdraw after eight holes. Tournament officials said she suffered from dehydration.

Benz, whose best finish this year has been a tie for fifth in the United Virginia Bank tournament, birdied her final two holes for her margin over Judy Dickinson and Lauren Howe, who had 69s over the 6,472-yard Sweetwater Country Club course.

Spain’s Severiano Ballesteros shot a course-record-equaling 65 to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the $195,000 French Open tournament at Versailles, France.

Ballesteros’ seven-under-par round on the La Boulie course matched the record set by Britain’s David J. Russell three years ago.

Nick Faldo of Britain and Mark Wiltshire of South Africa were at 66. American Bob E. Smith, Briton Neil Hansen and Italian Costantino Rocca were at 67.