Maryland, June 07: Rory Sabbatini struck a five-under-par 66 to take a two-stroke lead over four golfers after the second round of the Capital Open in Maryland. The 27-year-old South African had seven birdies and two bogeys on the TPC at Avenel to move to eight under par at the halfway stage. Among those within striking distance is David Duval, who put a dismal season behind him by tying the course record with a nine-under 62. Notah Begay III (69), Tom Gillis (68) and Niclas Fasth of Sweden (68) are level with Duval. Sabbatini had four birdies on the front nine and moved to seven under for the day with birdies on the 10th, 13th and 14th but he bogeyed the 15th and 17th before finishing with a par. His lone victory on the PGA Tour came at the 2000 Air Canada Championship.

Duval, by contrast, has 13 Tour victories, but none since the 2001 Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne's. He has missed the cut nine times this season and his best performance was a tie for 33rd at the Match Play Championship.

Duval did not drop a shot during his second round and finished with five straight birdies - his other birdies came on the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 11th. First round leader Robert Gamez dropped away with a 74 and is now six shots off the pace. Rich Beem, the 1999 champion, shot a 70 and is one of three players three shots back on 137 - alongside Hal Sutton (69) and Patrick Sheehan (69).

Bureau Report