Rookie Golfer Is Surprise Leader With 62

Carl Paulson, an obscure rookie whose top finish this year is 20th place, shot the best round of his career Thursday, a 10-under-par 62 for a two-stroke lead on the opening day of the Walt Disney Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Paulson surged through the back nine of the Palm course, running off five consecutive birdies before closing with a par on the 18th hole. Keith Fergus and Craig Parry were at 64, with Jay Delsing, Bob Tway, Mike Heinen and Steve Lowery at 65.

Paulson, who played at the University of South Carolina, has made only eight of 18 cuts. His best finish was a tie for 20th in last month’s Quad City Classic. The 24-year-old rookie has earned $31,224 this year--223rd on the money list.

Basketball

Damon Stoudamire, downplaying concerns that he is too small for the NBA at 5 feet 10, signed a three-year, $4.6-million contract with the expansion Toronto Raptors. He was the seventh pick in the NBA draft.

Guard Brian Shaw, forward Dennis Scott and first-round draft pick David Vaughn signed contracts with the Orlando Magic. Scott received a three-year contract worth about $9 million and Vaughn got a three-year, $1.5-million deal. Shaw signed for three years but financial terms were not disclosed.

Health officials in Taiwan say they will not allow Magic Johnson into the country for exhibition games in late October because he has HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Johnson’s agent, Lon Rosen, however, says they have assurances from the president of Taiwan that Johnson will be welcome.

Tennis

Monica Seles, the co-ranked No. 1 women’s player in the world, was one of seven Americans invited to play in the 1995 Fed Cup final.

Seles, who returned to the Women’s Tennis Assn. tour this year after a 28-month absence, joins Lindsay Davenport, Gigi Fernandez, Mary Joe Fernandez, Amy Frazier, Martina Navratilova and Chanda Rubin on the team selected by captain Billie Jean King.

The United States must announce a starting roster no later than Nov. 15 for its match against Spain in Valencia on Nov. 25-26.

Baseball

The Wisconsin state Senate tentatively rejected a plan to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin by raising taxes to help build the team a $250-million stadium. After voting, 16-15, against the plan, the Senate immediately moved for reconsideration so a new vote could be taken after a recess for party caucuses.

Olympics

A plan to impose unannounced drug tests in all Olympic sports in the United States probably will be delayed until after the Atlanta Games next summer.

U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Director Dick Schultz said discussions were still taking place on the proposal.

Miscellany

UCLA will try to stretch its winning streak to 16 matches over USC in women’s volleyball tonight at 7 at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins are ranked sixth in the nation with an 8-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the Pacific 10. No. 17 USC (5-4, 3-3) has not defeated UCLA since 1987.

Tickets for all exhibition and regular-season Laker games will go on sale Sunday at 10 a.m., at the Forum box office and at Ticketmaster outlets.