John Huston breaks away from the PGA Tour pack
After a three-way tie, he leads the Southern Farm Bureau Classic by two.
MADISON, Miss. (AP) -- John Huston shot his second straight 66 Friday and held a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
Huston began the day in a three-way tie for the lead and ended it at 12-under 132 after two trips around the 7,199-yard course at Annandale Golf Club.
"I played probably better today than I did [Thursday]," he said. "I missed a couple of short birdie putts, but other than that I did putt pretty well. Everything was clicking pretty well."
Tanaka is second
First-round co-leader Hidemichi Tanaka was second at 134. He started his round with a double bogey on No. 10, but rebounded with five birdies on the back nine for a 68.
Tim Clark and Chris Anderson matched Huston's low round of 66 and were tied for third at 135.
Playing in the afternoon after Huston set the pace early, Clark birdied his first three holes.
"I really wanted to get to probably 10, 11 under. I had some shots to get there, but didn't make some putts coming in," said Clark, who finished third at the PGA Championship in August.
Defending champion Luke Donald shot a 67 and was tied with Paul Stankowski (68) and Shigeki Maruyama (68) at 136.
Franco falls off pace
The other first-round co-leader, Carlos Franco, fell off the pace with a 72 that left him six strokes back.
Huston took five weeks off to rest and rehab his chronically sore shoulder and an aching elbow before returning to competition last week at the Texas Open.
He has regularly taken long breaks during the season in recent years.
"Whenever I feel my body getting dragged down with little aches and pains," he said.
The time off appears to have rejuvenated him.
"Right now, it feels pretty good. It's not a factor at all," he said.
Huston, who started on the back nine, closed strong for the second straight day. He made birdies on three of his last five holes, highlighted by a well-played chip on No. 7.
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