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Van Pelt takes two-stroke lead at golf Buick Open

AFP - Saturday, June 28

FLINT, Michigan (AFP) - - Bo Van Pelt, who is seeking his first win on the USPGA Tour, shot six-under 66 to reach a 14-under total and take a two-shot lead after the second round of the Buick Open.

The American started on the back nine and birdied five of his first 10 holes before making a birdie on number seven during his bogey-free round.

"I was just trying to stay aggressive and not make any bogeys," Van Pelt said. "I didn't want to go backwards. I just kept trying to tell myself to keep going forward, to keep going forward, and that was pretty much my motto all day."

The 33-year-old Van Pelt started the day tied for the lead with Corey Pavin and Dudley Hart, who shot a four-under 68 and is tied for second with Sweden's Daniel Chopra at 12-under for the tournament.

Chopra carded a five-under 67, while Pavin stumbled to a two-over 74 and fell eight shots off the pace at six-under overall.

Hart started strong, making birdies on numbers one and two before playing even-par golf for the next 13 holes. The 39-year-old then birdied Nos. 16 and 18, completing his second straight bogey-free round.

Woody Austin, who birdied four straight holes and eagled another to move within striking distance of taking the lead after his front nine, bogeyed his final hole - No. 9 on the course - to fall into a tie for fourth with Matt Jones at 11-under for the tournament.

Jones had the best round of the day, making five birdies and two eagles to surge into contention with a nine-under 63.

Playing in his first event since his heartbreaking 19-hole playoff loss to Tiger Woods, the 2000 Buick champion Rocco Mediate carded a three-under 69 and is in a tie for 48th at four-under overall.

"Today I felt much better, got some sleep and played a little bit better," Mediate said. "I love it here and really wanted to play the weekend."

Mediate birdied hole Nos. 16 and 17 to just make the cut by two strokes.

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