Flanagan, Johnson in top spot

2008-07-19 09:10

Milwaukee - Nick Flanagan joined Sweden's Richard Johnson atop the US Bank Championship leaderboard on Friday as the four million-dollar tournament hit the halfway stage.

Australia's Flanagan fired a seven-under-par 63 to seize a share of the lead alongside overnight leader Johnson on 10-under 130.

Flanagan teed off at 10, and finished his round without a bogey. He nabbed his first birdie at 15, the picked up three in a row from the 17th.

He capped the round with his seventh birdie of the day at No 9.

"I didn't really mis-hit a shot in my first five holes, either," Flanagan said. "Just middle of greens and a couple of putts that lipped out.

"For once, stayed patient and knew I had a couple of easy - well, easier - par-fours and par-fives to come in and got through that with a couple more birdies. Then just really, really well on the back."

Johnson, who posted a 63 on Thursday, also started on the back nine and collected four birdies against one bogey en route to a three-under 67.

"I played better today, actually, than I did yesterday," Johnson said. "I just didn't get that many putts to drop today. It was really nice to go out today and feel that you can still shoot a low round when you played well yesterday."

Duo

One stroke behind Johnson and Flanagan at 131 is the duo of Kent Jones and Aussie Gavin Coles.

Jones carded a five-under 65, that included six birdies and a bogey at the par-three fifth.

The American played his best golf after the turn, with birdies at 10 and 13 and back-to-back birdies to close the round.

Coles enjoyed a career-best effort, carding a bogey-free eight-under 62. The 39-year-old, who started on the back nine, opened with a birdie and nabbed three more from the 13th and another at 18.

"Today, the putter decided it would behave itself," Coles said. "It found the hole a few times, and consequently, I made a few birdies. I'm not hitting it a long way away from the flag, either. I'm hitting it close a fair few times. It's nice."

Commitment

Within reach of his previous best round of 64, which he most recently recorded at the Stanford St Jude Championship in June, Coles improved on it with three birdies coming in.

"It seems strange to have only made 116 feet worth of putts, and then you go through it and I feel like I made a bunch," Coles said.

Troy Matteson (65) and Ken Duke (65) were tied for fifth on 132.

Kenny Perry, who has come under fire for declining to play in the British Open despite his recent strong form, was tied with seven others on 135, five shots adrift.

Having won each of his previous two starts and three of five, Perry chose not to make a run at his first career major title at Royal Birkdale, opting to honour his commitment to play here.

On Friday, Perry sank three birdies with one bogey en route to a 68. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA