Argentina’s Romero seizes Reno lead

RENO, Nevada: A late birdie binge lifted Argentina’s Andres Romero into the lead at the US PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open Friday, with a two-day total of 22 points under the Modified Stableford system.
Romero had nine birdies in all and totalled 14 points on Friday under the scoring system that awards eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus-one for bogey and minus-three for double bogey or worse.
“The system is really good for me,” said Romero, who is seeking a first US PGA Tour win since the 2008 Zurich Classic. “Last week I made 22 birdies and two eagles. If you make all those birdies here and eagles, it’s very good for you.”
Gary Woodland scored seven points for the second round at Montreux Golf and Country Club to grab second place with 21 points.
Woodland had a chance to take the lead on his last hole, the par-four ninth, but after his approach rolled to the hole and struck the pin without falling, he missed the birdie putt.
Australian Rod Pampling had nine birdies and just one bogey for 17 points on Friday to jump into a share of third place on 19 points.
He was joined by South Korean Charlie Wi, who had five birdies and an eagle with no bogeys or worse for a 15-point second round, and fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby, who had seven points.
First-round leader Josh Teater had three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey for a total of zero points, falling into a share of 16th.
While the blustery winds that plagued players on Thursday had abated, Appleby said he still had trouble reading putts on the course tucked into the mountains.
“It’s definitely tricky when you have a massive contour coming off a mountain that sometimes shows up more than other holes,” he said.
The $3 million tournament is played opposite the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio, where Tiger Woods fired a sizzling 61 on Friday to take a seven-shot lead.