MIAMI, 19 March 2006 — Tiger Woods’ bid for a record fifth Bay Hill Invitational title stalled with a second round one-under 71 that left him seven shots off the lead on Friday.
Lucas Glover moved to the top of the leaderboard one shot clear of Australians Robert Allenby and Rod Pampling at the halfway stage in Orlando, Florida on 10-under 134.
Woods, with three wins in his first five tournaments this year, began the day four strokes adrift of joint leaders Bart Bryant and Dean Wilson and looked poised to make a charge when he eagled the par five sixth.
But the world No. 1 never settled into his rhythm on a breezy afternoon at the Bay Hill course, offsetting his eagle and a birdie with two bogeys to leave him with a two day total of three-under 141.
Glover, who notched his first career PGA Tour victory at nearby Disney World last season, returned a five-under 67 for the second consecutive day. The 26-year-old American began smartly by picking up a stroke at the first and carded six more birdies, the only blemish on his scorecard being a double bogey on the par four 11th.
Appleby mixed six birdies with a single bogey for a five-under 67 to join Pampling on 135.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia remained in the thick of the title chase. He carded a three-under 69 to sit three off the pace at seven-under 137 alongside overnight co-leader Bryant (71).
South African Ernie Els has plenty of work to do to win the title again after signing for a one-over 73. Two-under through 11, Els stumbled to the finish with bogeys on three of his final seven holes to find himself six-shots back at four-under 140. Fiji’s Vijay Singh (71) and South African Retief Goosen (73) also struggled as they joined a large group at two-under 142.
Lee Leads Song at LPGA Safeway International
In Phoenix, Arizona, Sarah Lee, who is on a quest for her first LPGA Tour victory, fired a five-under-par 67 in the second round to grab a one-stroke lead in the $1.4 million Safeway International. The 27-year-old South Korean entered Friday’s play one shot behind Aree Song, who also is in search of her first title. After opening the round with a birdie, Lee double-bogeyed the third hole.
But she recovered to birdie No. 5 and finished strong, sinking three more on the back nine and closing the round with an eagle for a two-day score of 12-under 132.
Song was impressive on the front nine, offsetting a bogey on No. 5 with five birdies, including three straight from 6-8.
But the 19-year-old Bangkok-born Song who now represents South Korea bogeyed Nos. 12 and 17 to finish at 69.
