Verplank’s early run seizes lead
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (AP) — Scott Verplank birdied six of his first nine holes, then had pars the rest of the way for a second straight 6-under 66 Friday that gave him a one-shot lead over Tad Ridings, Stephen Ames and Ryan Armour after two rounds of the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.
I got out of rhythm just a little bit and kind of struggled to find it, said Verplank, who was at 12-under 132. But I got on such a nice roll in the first nine holes that I didn’t just kill myself by making a bunch of pars.
Unlike Verplank, who is 15th on the U.S. golf tour’s order of merit, Ridings has split time playing on the regular tour and the developmental Nationwide Tour. He entered this week 210th on the order of merit and needing victory to keep his card for next year.
I’m not really thinking of anything besides just playing this tournament, he said.
Ames, who captured The Players Championship last year, had seven straight birdies on the Disney World Resort’s Palm Course before a three-putt bogey at the end put him at 63.
Armour, who is safe at No. 119 on the money list, shot a 64 on the Palm.
The top 125 on the order of merit retain their cards for next year.
The group at 10-under 134 included Justin Leonard (67), Sean O’Hair (66) and first-round leader J.P. Hayes (69). The first two are trying to get in the Masters, while Hayes needed a good week at No. 123 on the order of merit.
A rare day of sunshine brought some tremendous play by those who desperately needed it. Duffy Waldorf, at No. 167 on the money list, was on the verge of missing the cut until he birdied the last two holes to qualify for the final two rounds. Glen Day is at No. 163, and he ran off a string of birdies late in the afternoon for a 67 to qualify for the weekend.
It seems like everyone will keep playing. The field is so bunched that 89 players made the cut.
That doesn’t include Ted Purdy, who was at No. 125 on the money list. He made a meaningless birdie on the last hole, but is assured of finishing outside the top 125 and will have to go to qualifying school to try to regain full status. Purdy was 110th on the money list when the Fall Series began, played all seven events and still didn’t make it.
I’m just tired, he said. It’s been a long seven weeks. I knew what I needed to do and just didn’t do it.
Also going home — and facing the longest trip — is 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa of Hawaii. He shot 72 for a 1-under 143, missing by two shots.
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