Sat Mar 29 16:51:50 2008

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Langer leads Ginn Championship by two

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Palm Coast, FL (Sports Network) - Bernhard Langer fired a six-under 66 Saturday to grab a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Ginn Championship at Hammock Beach.

Langer, who won earlier this year at the Toshiba Classic, completed 36 holes with a tournament-record score of 11-under-par 133. The previous 36-hole mark of 134 was set by Keith Fergus last year in the first Ginn Championship.

First-round leader Lonnie Nielsen bogeyed the final hole to post three-under 69. He is alone in second place at minus-nine. Fred Funk is one stroke back at minus-eight after a 69 of his own.

Tim Simpson chipped in for eagle on the 10th to get within one of the lead, but was plus-one from there with three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey. He carded a 68 and completed 36 holes at seven-under-par 137.

Langer got going with back-to-back birdies from the first to move to seven- under and into a share of the lead with Nielsen, who also birdied the first.

Nielsen slipped out of the lead with a bogey on the fourth. Langer again collected consecutive birdies from the sixth to move two clear of Funk.

Nielsen made a run at Langer's lead with three birdies in a four-hole span from the ninth, moving him to nine-under.

Langer drained a 15-footer for birdie on the 12th to remain one ahead of Nielsen.

Funk, who was one-under for his round through nine holes, birdied three in a row from the 10th to climb to nine-under, where he shared second with Nielsen.

Nielsen bogeyed the 13th, but recovered that stroke with a three-foot birdie putt on 14. Funk dropped in a 12-footer at 14 to remain one back as Langer two-putted for birdie on the par-five.

Funk chipped in for birdie on 15 to join Langer in the lead at 11-under. Nielsen also birdied No. 15, from three feet out, to get back within one of the lead at 10-under.

The 51-year-old Funk missed the green at 16 and 17. He bogeyed the 16th and after a poor first chip, walked off the 17th with a double-bogey that dropped him to minus-eight.

Langer two-putted for par on 15 and 16. At the par-three 17th, he missed the green left, but played his second within two feet and kicked that in for par. At the last, Langer two-putted for par from 14 feet.

Nielsen parred 16 and 17, but found trouble at the last. He missed the green right and putted to 12 feet. His par putt stayed above ground and the closing bogey left him two back.

Joe Ozaki fired a seven-under 65 to move into a share of fifth place at five- under-par 139. He was joined there by Nick Price, Craig Stadler, Mark McNulty and Ben Crenshaw.