Eagle-2 boosts Koch into lead by three strokes
Carin Koch opened a 3-under-par 69 Friday with an eagle-2 and went on to take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA’s Corona Morelia Championship at Morelia, Mexico.
Koch, who started the second round two strokes behind first-round leader Natalie Gulbis, holed a sand wedge from 97 yards for the eagle on No. 1, a 376-yard par-4.
Wendy Ward of Edwall, who won for the first time in nearly four years at the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas last week, had a 69 and was at 4-under 140 after two trips around the 6,763-yard Tres Marias Golf Club.
Ward opened the round with a birdie and then had five more in a six-hole stretch on the back nine.
Ward said a chat with her caddie on the 11th tee turned things around.
“I was able to start knocking down some pins, kind of like last week,” she said. “It was a matter of staying patient with your shots: Taking your chances when they were more realistic.”
Gulbis (75) and Maria Hijorth (72) were tied for third at 3 under.
Quigley, Coles ahead of Singh, Daly
Brett Quigley and Gavin Coles shared the lead after two rounds of the Shell Houston Open at Humble, Texas, one stroke in front of a four-man group that included defending champion Vijay Singh and John Daly.
“You just never know which is your week,” said Coles. “It’s only Friday. I don’t like to get ahead of myself too often.”
Quigley is still looking for his first victory since becoming a regular on the tour in 1997.
Singh held a one-stroke lead after his opening 64, but he had a 1-under 71 in the second round that included a bogey at the par-5 ninth that snapped a string of 64 holes at par or better at the Redstone Golf Club.
Quigley shot a second 67 and Coles had a 69 to share the lead at 10-under 134.
Jeff Maggert (68) and Joe Ogilvie (67) joined Daly (67) and Singh at 135, while Greg Owen was another stroke back after a 69.
Jose Maria Olazabal (67) and Mark Calcavecchia (68) were in a group of five at 137.
Scott shoots course record
Adam Scott shot a course-record, 9-under 63 in Beijing to complete the first round of the Johnnie Walker Classic that had been delayed because of strong wind.
Tied with Scott at 9 under in a second round at Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club – in which more than half the field had yet to start – were Retief Goosen, Michael Campbell and Peter Hanson.
Ernie Els, a two-time Johnnie Walker Classic winner, finished the first round at 71.
Purtzer leads Smyth in Champions Tour
Tom Purtzer tied a course record with a 7-under 65 that gave him a one-stroke lead in the first round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf at Savannah, Ga.
Des Smyth had a 66 at The Club at Savannah Harbor, an island layout in the middle of the Savannah River, while Jay Haas, Andy Bean, Morris Hatalsky and Wayne Levi were at 67.
Defending champion Hale Irwin, seeking his third victory in seven events this season, struggled to a 71.