KEY POINTS:
American golfer Jason Bohn rediscovered his putting touch to secure a two-stroke lead in the second round of the Wachovia Championship yesterday.
Bohn tamed testing winds at Quail Hollow to shoot a five-under-par 67.
That score was matched by compatriot Anthony Kim, who was in second, as well as Jim Furyk, Dudley Hart and George McNeill three shots off the pace in third.
New Zealand's Tim Wilkinson couldn't maintain his good recent form, missing the cut after shooting 76 yesterday to be seven-over following a 75 on the first day.
First-round leader David Toms slipped down the leaderboard after a 75 and Phil Mickelson had a poor finish, with double bogeys on 15 and 18, for a 74.
"The past few weeks I've started to play a little better and I did a lot of nice things today, so I'm kind of happy," said Bohn after carding a combined nine-under 135 at the halfway mark.
The 35-year-old said changes to his putting game helped.
"I've changed a little bit of my left-hand grip, but the biggest change is my putter got lengthened," he said.
Bohn has one PGA Tour victory, the BC Open in 2005, but is best known for winning US$1 million (NZ$1.3 million) in 1992 at a hole-in-one competition in Alabama.
He was a college player at the time, but the annual US$50,000 instalments allowed him to pursue his professional aspirations.
"It was a life-changing experience. In all honesty, it is the only reason I'm sitting here today," he added.
Adam Scott, winner of last week's Byron Nelson Championship, just made the cut, sinking a 14-footer at the last to advance to the final two rounds, 10 shots off the pace.
Masters champion Trevor Immelman made an early exit for the second week in a row.
Spaniard Ignacio Garrido stole the show at the Spanish Open yesterday with a birdie-littered second round that gave him a commanding four-shot lead at the Real Club de Golfde Sevilla.
Garrido impressed with a late surge on the opening day but a total of nine birdies contributed to his second round of 63 for a 15-under-par 129.
New Zealand's Gareth Paddison is 13 shots off the pace in 45th place on two-under after shooting 69 to follow his opening 73.
Compatriot Steve Alker missed the cut by a shot, despite carding a 68, which improved his score to even-par. Miguel Angel Jimenez is among six players sharing seventh on 137, seven under par.
- AGENCIES
