Australia's Pampling roars into Colonial lead

HOUSTON, May 20: Australian Rod Pampling posted eight birdies as he fired a 7-under-par 63 to vault into the lead at 10-under after two rounds of the million Colonial Championship in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Pampling, tied for 15th place after his opening-round 67, held a one-shot lead over Canadian Stephen Ames, US PGA Tour rookie Charley Hoffman and first-round leader Stewart Cink.

Tied for fifth, two strokes off the lead was Australian Peter Lonard and Americans Tim Herron and Dean Wilson.

Another shot back at 7-under-par 133 were Americans Jim Furyk and Arron Oberholser, Swedes Richard Johnson and Fredrik Jacobson, and Henrik Bjornstad of Norway.

Pampling started his day on the back nine and began with three birdies in a row on his way to his best round of the year, going two strokes lower than the 65 he shot in the second round at Bay Hill, where he won earlier this season.

''Three in a row is a good start,'' Pampling, 36, told reporters.

''It just allows you not to be so aggressive on some of the holes.

You can play a little more safer, and sometimes I played a little bit too safe.

The Australian made up for his only bogey of the day, at the par-four No. 3, with back-to-back birdies from the fifth.

''I was always in the right side to get a chance to get up and down,'' he said. ''I didn't make too many mistakes. When we missed the green we chipped and putted and kept the momentum going.'' Pampling has been going strong of late, finishing tied for eighth last week at the Byron Nelson.

Ames, an early starter who took advantage of calm conditions before Colonial's notorious winds began to blow, and Hoffman both shot 66s, while Cink had his second straight bogey-free round in posting a 67 for his 131 total.

''The last nine holes we got some wind in here which is nice to see here at Colonial,'' said Ames, winner of the Players Championship this season.

Ames said the wind-free opening round and the lush shape of the layout known as ''Hogan's Alley,'' combined for low scores.

''The greens are very true, and nice this year. They are very full. I have never seen them this full. The whole golf course is that way,'' Ames said. ''It's been fun the last two days.'' Seventy-seven players made the cut, which was set at one-over-par 141.

Among players missing the cut were Bubba Watson, who followed his opening-round 65 with a 77, and Germany's Bernhard Langer, who shot 74-71 for 145.

Reuters