Golf: Eagle aids Briton as Cambo crashes out

Britain's Greg Owen spectacularly holed out with a sand wedge to eagle the par-four 15th on the way to a share of the lead in yesterday's second round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale.

Owen began with a sizzling run of five birdies in the first six holes and ended it by carding a 6-under-par 64 for an 11-under total of 129. Level with the Briton was 20-year-old American Rickie Fowler, who fired a matching 64 on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in only his second PGA Tour event as a professional.

Veteran American Justin Leonard, winner of the 1997 British Open, was alone in third at 10-under after carding a seven-birdie 64.

Owen, two shots behind pacesetting Australian Nick O'Hern overnight, set the tone for his early birdie barrage with a superb wedge approach to within two feet at the par-four first.

Out in 3-under 32, he collected his sixth birdie of the day at the par-four 14th before holing out from 104 yards at the 15th.

"That was the icing on the cake," the 37-year-old Englishman said of his stunning eagle.

The 20-year-old Fowler, who helped the United States beat Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup last month, tied for seventh in his pro debut last week in Las Vegas at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

He was even for the round through five holes yesterday, then kicked his game into high gear with an eagle on the par-4, 345-yard sixth.

The youngster was unflappable throughout the round, which ended with a birdie on hole 18.

This wasn't all new to him.

He noted he had played "a few tour events" as an amateur, including two US Opens.

"So I feel I've been through plenty of experiences to make me feel comfortable out here," Fowler said.

"You know, what you're seeing is pretty much how I feel. I just feel like I'm going around and having fun. Right now the game feels good, so that makes it even more fun."

He plans to go to US PGA Tour qualifying school after this weekend. That would be unnecessary if he wins the tournament, though, because a victory would qualify him for next year's full tour.

Fowler seems a natural for the game. He says he hasn't had a swing coach since high school.

"Other than that, I'm basically on my own and doing my thing," he said.

Meanwhile, in Castellon, Spain, New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell crashed out while an impressive round of 66 helped Australia's Robert Allenby grab a share of the lead at the halfway stage.

Allenby was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Germany's Martin Kaymer before play was suspended due to bad light. A group of 50 players will complete their second rounds overnight.

Campbell can pack his bags after shooting a 6-over 77, the worst completed round of the day to drop near the tail of the field on 4-over and miss the cut.

The out-of-touch Wellingtonian made a solid start to the wind-interrupted tournament on Friday, sitting 28th after shooting a two-under 69 to lie six shots behind first round co-leaders Kaymer and Spaniard Sergio Garcia. However, six bogeys and two double-bogeys marred his response yesterday. - Agencies

Leading New Zealand golfer Danny Lee stumbled late and has failed in his bid to qualify for the United States PGA Tour via the qualifying school route. Lee, last year's US amateur champion, finished a disappointing 36th in the first-stage qualifying tournament in Texas, his 7-over tally five shots more than was required to advance to the second stage.