Curtis keeps victory hopes alive at Avenel

WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) Ben Curtis stayed on track for his first PGA Tour title in three years by retaining the lead at the Booz Allen Classic in Potomac, Maryland.

The 29-year-old American recovered from a stumbling start at the TPC at Avenel to fire a six-under-par 65, finishing the second round one shot clear on 15-under 127 yesterday.

Surprise winner of the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George's, Curtis bogeyed his fourth hole, the par-five 13th, after hitting out-of-bounds.

He then made the most of receptive greens softened by overnight rain, however, reeling off seven birdies to end an overcast day a stroke in front of Jose Coceres of Argentina.

Coceres, 42, rattled up five birdies in seven holes on his way to a second successive 64.

American Jeff Gove was a further three shots back at 11 under after adding a 68 to his opening 63.

''It was a good finish to the day,'' Curtis told reporters. ''I got off to a little shaky start and didn't feel real great with my swing at the beginning.

''I hit a few shots to the right, but kept my composure. Although I went out of bounds on 13, I got a nice bogey there and after that I just got the putter rolling.'' MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH Curtis, who has mainly struggled on the PGA Tour since stunning the golfing world with his major breakthrough in 2003, knows his task is only half done at the TPC.

''There's a lot of golf to be played and, with two rounds to go, it doesn't mean you have the trophy in your hand yet,'' said the Ohio-based professional, who started the day with a one-stroke lead after firing a blistering nine-birdie 62.

''You can't think about that. Winning the British (Open) and having a couple of chances last year, I just try to take those experiences into the weekend and handle it the best as I can.'' Coceres, twice a winner on the PGA Tour, mixed three birdies with a solitary bogey to reach the turn at two-under 33 after teeing off at the par-four 10th.

The Buenos Aires resident then moved into overdrive on his homeward nine, reeling off birdies at the first, second, fifth, sixth and seventh.

''I got a lot of confidence from yesterday,'' Coceres said.

''Today, I played very good golf and I am very happy for the next two rounds.'' Coceres, playing his fourth event on the 2006 PGA Tour, is chasing his first victory since the 2001 Walt Disney Classic.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington, the highest-ranked player in the field, improved on his opening 70 with a seven-birdie 65.

That left the Irish world number 23 in a tie for ninth at seven under, level with 2004 European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, who also returned a 65.

The halfway cut fell at two-under 140 with Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson, Briton Lee Westwood and twice U S Open champion Lee Janzen among those missing out.

REUTERS VJ BST0543