Golf: Lee makes the weekend

New Zealand golfer Danny Lee comfortably made the cut for a second PGA tournament in a row, carding a three-under-par 67 in the second round of the Colonial Invitational tournament at Fort Worth, Texas yesterday.

Starting the day in joint 42nd, Lee, who shot a 69 in the first round, enjoyed seven birdies but suffered bogeys on the third and 17th holes and a double bogey six on No 5.

His two-round total of 136 leaves him among a clutch of players in 21st spot, 10 shots behind the leader, American Steve Stricker. The cut was set at 140.

Lee, 18, last year's US Amateur champion, finished 13th at last week's Byron Nelson Championship, gaining him 10 spots in the world rankings to No 131.

Stricker birdied the last two holes to hold a slender two-shot lead over Vijay Singh. One of three players who set the first-round pace, Stricker fired a second consecutive seven-under-par 63 to take control. But Singh refused to be outdone and the Fijian finished the day with a six-under-par 64.

Stricker, a four-times PGA Tour winner, struck a superb approach to three feet at the par-four 18th and knocked in the putt for a record 14-under total of 126.

"I kind of like what's going on right now," a beaming Stricker told reporters after eclipsing the previous tournament best of 16 under set by fellow American Kenny Perry in 2005. "It was a lot of fun out there - again."

American Sean O'Hair finished his round in fourth with a 64, three shots off the lead. Australian Jason Day carded a seven-birdie 65 to lie four strokes off the lead, one ahead of American Woody Austin (68).

Meanwhile, a two-under-par 69 in the second round was good enough for New Zealand golfer Bradley Iles to hang on to the joint lead in a second-tier Nationwide Tour tournament in the US.

Iles and fellow overnight leader Jeff Gallagher shot matching 69s to be on nine-under 133 in the Rex Hospital Open on the TPC Wakefield course in Raleigh, North Carolina, yesterday.

They were joined by big movers Scott Gardiner, of Australia, and American Jeff Curt. Gardiner, 60th at the start of the day at one-under, fired an eight-under 63 while Curt shot a six-under 65.

Iles, solid from tee to green yesterday, shooting seven birdies in a blemish free-round, was not as smooth off the tees and fairways yesterday - mixing six birdies with four birdies.

Fellow New Zealander Grant Waite had another steady day with a four under 67 for a total of 135 which saw him move from joint 25th into a tie for ninth. Phil Tataurangi missed the cut by one shot after posting an even par 71 yesterday.

- NZPA