United Airlines Hawaiian Open
Waialae Country Club
Honolulu, Hawaii
12th February- 15th February 1998

Par 72 Prize Money $1.8 million

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Huston leads after second round

Honolulu, Hawaii, 13th February 1998 - John Huston followed his strong first round with a 7-under-par 65 today to take the second-round lead at the $1.8 million Hawaiian Open at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

Huston, who exercised his right to play on the Tour this year as a member of the top 50 in career earnings, shared the first-round lead with David Ogrin. He followed his opening-round 63 with a bogey-free 18 today and leads Skip Kendall by two shots and Tom Watson by three.

Ogrin and two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange are among a group of five golfers four shots off the lead. Ogrin followed his 63 on Thursday with a 69 today.

Huston began the round on the back nine, and sank a 10-foot birdie putt on 10. After two pars he drained consecutive 12-foot putts on 13 and 14 to move 12-under for the tournament.

Huston added another 12-foot birdie putt on 18 before making the turn at 4-under for the round. He closed his round with birdies at 5, 8 and 9.

"I thought the course played tougher today," Huston said. "I'm pleased with the way I played. I took advantage of the chances I had. I am playing well and feeling good. Feeling better has helped my confidence."

Kendall carded a 9-under 63 today and did it by without a bogey. He came out quickly with birdies on the first two holes and moved to 4-under on the round by converting birdie opportunities on 5 and 7.

After making the turn at 9-under for the tournament, Kendall caught fire ripping off four straight birdies. He would add a birdie on the par-5 18th to cap his strong round and move within striking distance of Huston.

"I appreciate what is happening," said Kendall. "I feel fortunate how it has worked out. My wife is pregnant and I wanted to get off to a good start so I could take some time off.

"I know all this could end tomorrow and it will someday, but I'm enjoying it. The thing I needed to do was become tougher on the course. It's a fine line between having a killer instinct and inner peace."

Watson had a wild round that featured nine birdies, a three-putt that turned into a bogey and three critical saves. Beginning on the back nine, Watson opened with a par and then ran off three straight birdies, including a 35-footer on the par-5 13th.

He posted consecutive saves on 15 and 16 before righting the ship with birdies on 17 and 18. Watson made the turn at 5-under for the round and 10-under for the tournament. He sank mid-range birdie putts on 2 and 5 before giving a stroke back by three-putting at 7. He closed his round with a pair of birdies to move into contention.

"I didn't hit ball well to start, but I had the Watson roll with my putter," said Watson, who has won just once in the last decade. "It started me off well, then I hit some quality shots after that.

"I'm putting better. I always said if I could get back to the way I putted I could win again. If I can make an average of six birdies a day over the next two rounds, I may have a chance to win."

The Waialae Country Club is a par-72 layout that measures 7,012 yards.

First prize is $324,000.