Durant lurking one shot back
Associated Press
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (April 20) -- Lee Janzen, trying to win the tournament that got away from him in 1998, shot a 4-under 68 Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the Shell Houston Open.
The two-time U.S. Open winner had consecutive bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9, missing makable putts, but birdied three of his final four holes for a 9-under 135 total for 36 holes.
Joe Durant, who shared the first-round lead with Janzen, was a stroke back after a 69. Tom Pernice Jr. (67) was two back at 137, followed by Hal Sutton (68) and Kevin Sutherland (69) at 138, and Joel Edwards (69) and Matt Gogel (69) at 139.
The 36-hole cut was at 1-over 145.
"I should have won here in 1998, but I fell apart on the back nine; I had three bogeys and a double," Janzen said. "Any time I think about Houston, I remember that. Eliminate those four holes and I think I'd have won."
Janzen played well enough to win for the second straight day. He started Friday's round over the 7,018-yard TPC course tied for the lead with Durant following 67s.
"I feel much more confident this week than last week," Janzen said. "You can pick out the right shot all you want, but if you don't hit the shot you intend to hit that makes it a lot more difficult to score."
After starting on the back nine, Durant reached 8-under for the first time with a birdie on No. 2. He followed that with a bogey on No. 3 and needed some luck to save par on No. 5.
"My ball hit a spike mark and somehow went in the hole," Durant said.
Durant got back to 8-under with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 6.
"I played conservatively and hit the fairways and greens and gave myself an opportunity," Durant said. "I think I played a solid two days considering the wind and the pin placements."
Pernice had five birdies and no bogeys in his round. He started on the back nine and birdied from 3 feet. He followed that by two-putting from 50 feet for a birdie on No. 13 and sank a 3-footer on No. 15.
Pernice parred until he ran in putts of 8 feet on No. 6 and 15 feet on No. 8 to complete his round. But he talked about up and downs on Nos. 2, 3 and 7.
"I struggled a little bit in the middle of the round," Pernice said. "On 7, I hit the wrong club off the tee and it kicked to the right in the bushes and I had chipped it out and got it up and down.
"I think those three up-and-downs were key to really keep the day going."
Vijay Singh, the tour's No. 2 money-winner, shot 70 that included three birdies, an eagle and three bogeys for a 36-hole total of 143. David Duval shot a 70 for a 142 total.
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