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British Open champion repeats brilliance in taking early lead
Hilton Head, Apr 18: Ben Curtis holds a one shot lead over Heath Slocum in the MCI Heritage Classic golf tournament.
Hilton Head, Apr 18: Ben Curtis holds a one shot lead over Heath Slocum in the MCI Heritage Classic golf tournament.
Reigning British Open champion Ben Curtis chipped in three times on Friday (April 16) en route to a five-under 66 and the lead midway through the MCI Heritage Classic. Curtis stands at eight-under-par 134 and owns a one-shot lead over Heath Slocum at Harbour Town Golf Links. Ted Purdy shot a four-under 67 in the second round and is alone in third place at six-under-par 136. Darren Clarke (66), Jay Haas (69), Kevin Na (68), Patrick Sheehan (66) and John Huston (68) share fourth place at five-under-par 137.
Curtis, who took home the claret jug last year at Royal St. George's, opened on the back nine Friday. He parred his first five holes, then netted his first chip-in birdie, from 25 feet, at the par-five 15th.
The reigning British Open champion played more spectacular golf after he made the turn at Harbour Town. He holed his second shot with a sand-wedge from 110 yards for an eagle two at the first hole and made an eight-footer to get up and down from a bunker for birdie at two. At the third, Curtis drove well right of the fairway. He pitched out short of the green then collected his third hole-out, this time a bump-and-run from 50 feet.
It has been nine months since Curtis shocked the golf world when he became the first player to make a major victory his first on tour since John Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship.
Since the magical win at the British Open, Curtis has only held the lead once on the PGA Tour, after the first round of the WGC-NEC Invitational. That coincided with the week of his wedding but Curtis now may be ready to validate his major win.
Slocum, the winner of this year's Chrysler Classic of Tucson, played in the afternoon session and like Curtis, started on the second nine. He broke into red figures quickly with a six-footer for birdie at the 10th, then five holes later made a putt of similar length for his second birdie of the round. He dropped a shot at the par-three 17th when he landed in a bunker but made up for the miscue around the turn.
Slocum, a three-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the first, then added a four-foot birdie putt at the second to reach six-under par for the championship.
Slocum played a spectacular two-iron to six feet at the par-five fifth. He missed the eagle putt but tapped in for birdie to get within one of Curtis' lead. At the ninth, his last, Slocum had 10 feet for birdie.
He misread the putt and missed a chance at sharing the 36-hole lead, which would have been the second time on tour after his victory in Tucson.
First-round leader Cameron Beckman managed a one-over 72 and is part of a group in 14th place at three-under-par 139.
Defending champion and five-time winner of this event Davis Love III carded a one-under 71 on Friday and is currently at even-par 142.
The 36-hole cut fell at two-over-par 144 and among the notable players who will not be around on the weekend are: Jeff Sluman (145), Retief Goosen (148) and Lee Westwood (153).
Leading scores after Friday's second round of the MCI Heritage Classic: 134 Ben Curtis 68 66 135 Heath Slocum 68 67 136 Ted Purdy 69 67 137 Darren Clarke 71 66, Jay Haas 68 69, Kevin Na 69 68, Patrick Sheehan 71 66, John Huston 69 68 138 Mark O'Meara 71 67, Scott Hoch 70 68, Chad Campbell 69 69, Stephen Ames 70 68 Fred Funk 69 69
Bureau Report
Reigning British Open champion Ben Curtis chipped in three times on Friday (April 16) en route to a five-under 66 and the lead midway through the MCI Heritage Classic. Curtis stands at eight-under-par 134 and owns a one-shot lead over Heath Slocum at Harbour Town Golf Links. Ted Purdy shot a four-under 67 in the second round and is alone in third place at six-under-par 136. Darren Clarke (66), Jay Haas (69), Kevin Na (68), Patrick Sheehan (66) and John Huston (68) share fourth place at five-under-par 137.
Curtis, who took home the claret jug last year at Royal St. George's, opened on the back nine Friday. He parred his first five holes, then netted his first chip-in birdie, from 25 feet, at the par-five 15th.
The reigning British Open champion played more spectacular golf after he made the turn at Harbour Town. He holed his second shot with a sand-wedge from 110 yards for an eagle two at the first hole and made an eight-footer to get up and down from a bunker for birdie at two. At the third, Curtis drove well right of the fairway. He pitched out short of the green then collected his third hole-out, this time a bump-and-run from 50 feet.
It has been nine months since Curtis shocked the golf world when he became the first player to make a major victory his first on tour since John Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship.
Since the magical win at the British Open, Curtis has only held the lead once on the PGA Tour, after the first round of the WGC-NEC Invitational. That coincided with the week of his wedding but Curtis now may be ready to validate his major win.
Slocum, the winner of this year's Chrysler Classic of Tucson, played in the afternoon session and like Curtis, started on the second nine. He broke into red figures quickly with a six-footer for birdie at the 10th, then five holes later made a putt of similar length for his second birdie of the round. He dropped a shot at the par-three 17th when he landed in a bunker but made up for the miscue around the turn.
Slocum, a three-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, sank a 25-foot birdie putt at the first, then added a four-foot birdie putt at the second to reach six-under par for the championship.
Slocum played a spectacular two-iron to six feet at the par-five fifth. He missed the eagle putt but tapped in for birdie to get within one of Curtis' lead. At the ninth, his last, Slocum had 10 feet for birdie.
He misread the putt and missed a chance at sharing the 36-hole lead, which would have been the second time on tour after his victory in Tucson.
First-round leader Cameron Beckman managed a one-over 72 and is part of a group in 14th place at three-under-par 139.
Defending champion and five-time winner of this event Davis Love III carded a one-under 71 on Friday and is currently at even-par 142.
The 36-hole cut fell at two-over-par 144 and among the notable players who will not be around on the weekend are: Jeff Sluman (145), Retief Goosen (148) and Lee Westwood (153).
Leading scores after Friday's second round of the MCI Heritage Classic: 134 Ben Curtis 68 66 135 Heath Slocum 68 67 136 Ted Purdy 69 67 137 Darren Clarke 71 66, Jay Haas 68 69, Kevin Na 69 68, Patrick Sheehan 71 66, John Huston 69 68 138 Mark O'Meara 71 67, Scott Hoch 70 68, Chad Campbell 69 69, Stephen Ames 70 68 Fred Funk 69 69
Bureau Report