Albers Equals Record (62), Trails Alfredsson By Five

This is how well Helen Alfredsson played in the second round Friday of the Welch’s-Circle K Championship in Tucson: Kristi Albers tied an LPGA record and still trailed by five shots.

Alfredsson carded an eight-under 64, good for a 12-under 132 total and a four-shot lead over fellow Swede Charlotta Sorenstam, Chris Johnson, Tina Barrett and Michelle Estill.

Albers was at 137, recovering from her first-round 75 with a 62. Her round included birdies on the second, third, fourth, fifth, ninth, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes.

Only Laura Davies (1991), Hollis Stacy (1992) and Kathryn Marshall (1997) have played a par-72 LPGA course in 10 under. Vicki Fergon was 11 under on a par-73 layout in San Jose in 1984.

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Jeff Maggert felt the wind die and figured the scores would go down too. He got his game in gear just in time to keep a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Fla.

John Daly, one off the lead when the round began, bogeyed four of his first five holes in benign conditions en route to a four-over 76, and had to make a four-footer for par on the 18th just to make the cut.

Daly is nine strokes behind Maggert, who made three consecutive birdies on his back nine for a 68 and is at nine-under 135 after two rounds on the TPC at Heron Bay.

One stroke back is Lee Janzen, who made an eagle out of the same bunker on the 16th for the second straight day in a round of 66.

Defending champion Stuart Appleby finally got his putter going and was two strokes back after a 67 left him tied with Mark Calcavecchia at 137.

Meanwhile, Chip Beck has now gone a full year without making a cut. Beck, who last made a cut at last year’s Honda, had a 74 to finish at five-over 149.

Golf Notes

Tiger Woods will join former Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards, Bruce Jenner, Mary Lou Retton, Chris Evert, Pete Rose, Walter Payton and Michael Jordan as permanent representatives of the cereal maker General Mills, sources told the Associated Press. . . . Stephen Leaney of Australia shot a five-under 67 and was leader in the clubhouse at nine-under 135 when the second round of the Moroccan Open in Agadir was suspended because of darkness.