GOLF ROUNDUP : Cochran Uses Easy Swing for 65, Colonial Lead

Russ Cochran turned an injury into an advantage Thursday, shooting a five-under-par 65 to take one-stroke lead after the first round of the $1-million Colonial National Invitation tournament at Ft. Worth, Tex.

Cochran is playing in his first tournament since sustaining cartilage damage in his sternum and rib cage during a tournament in New Orleans last month.

“I was still feeling a little pain early in the round today,” he said, “but that kept me swinging nice and easy--no hard swings.”

He took the lead with a birdie-birdie finish. That put him one shot in front of Corey Pavin, who birdied two of the last three holes for a 66.

The group at 67 included John Mahaffey, Tom Purtzer, Scott Hoch, Billy Mayfair and Richard Zokol, who overcame a double bogey on the ninth hole.

Martha Nause, finishing her round before a swirling wind kicked up, birdied three of her last four holes to take the first-round lead in the $400,000 Pat Bradley International at High Point, N.C.

The tournament uses the Stableford scoring system. Birdies are worth two points, eagles five and double-eagles eight. Pars are worth no points. One point is deducted for a bogey and three for a double-bogey or higher. The scores will be cumulative and there will be a cut after today’s second round.

Nause amassed 11 points on the par-72, 6,260-yard Willow Creek Golf Course, one more than Deb Richard. Juli Inkster, Marta Figueras-Dotti and Sherri Turner were tied with nine points.

Jan Stephenson, playing in her first tournament since January when she suffered a hand injury, had two points.