Saturday, June 24, 2006
He added 65 to his 62 for a record-breaking 127 in the Booz Allen Classic.
POTOMAC, Md. (AP) -- Ben Curtis wore the burgundy and gold of the Washington Redskins. Jose Coceres wore the blue and white of Argentina's soccer team.
The American football fan took the lead over World Cup football fan Friday when Curtis made a 5-foot birdie putt on his final hole, giving him a one-stroke edge over the only Argentine on the PGA Tour at the midway point of the Booz Allen Classic.
Curtis followed his first-round 62 with a 65 for 127 at the TPC at Avenel, putting him at 15-under-par and setting a tournament record for best score after 36 holes.
The 2003 British Open champion saved par from green-side traps on back-to-back holes before his final birdie.
"I got off to a little shaky start. I didn't feel real comfortable with the swing at the beginning," Curtis said. "I hit one out of bounds at 13, but after that, I got the putter going."
Both in final group
Curtis and Coceres will play together in the final group today, and Coceres will no doubt be thankful that threatening weather has prompted officials to send the leaders out in the morning.
Barring a storm delay, Coceres should finish in time to watch Argentina play Mexico for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
"Big moment," said Coceres, whose blue-and-white horizontal stripes on his golf shirt were just enough to evoke thoughts of the famous blue-and-white vertical stripes on Argentina's soccer uniforms. "That is my team, my country."
Curtis' attire was more about money. He has a deal with a sponsor that requires him to wear the colors and logos of the local NFL teams at every tournament. He wasn't thrilled about wearing Baltimore Ravens purple on Thursday because he's a Cleveland Browns fan from Ohio, so the Redskins colors were a better fit all around.
"I heard a few comments yesterday, 'Where's the Redskins?' and all that good stuff," said Curtis, who plans to wear Redskins gear again today and Sunday. "And it's easier to wear for me as well."
Coceres has 64 again
Coceres shot a second consecutive 64 as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory in five years. Jeff Gove was four shots off the lead, with John Huston and Brett Quigley another stroke behind as low scores continue to dominate on a course that looks relatively easy following last week's U.S. Open.
"At the U.S. Open, a guy wins a tournament at 5 over par," said Quigley, whose 63 was the best round of the day. "And to be honest, the greens were terrible. When we get good greens, it's like going from putting out of the rough last week to putting on a marble tile. Perfect. The greens are that good."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.