Stricker leads, Day fifth at Colonial
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial | Round Two | 30 May 2009
Steve Stricker has a one shot lead at the completion of 36 holes of the Crowne Plaza Colonial Invitational in Fort Worth, consecutive rounds of 63 easing him ahead of last year’s joint runner up Tim Clark.
While Stricker has not won for more than 20 months on the PGA Tour, he has regularly contended and his form of late has been building towards his first victory since the Barclay’s in late 2007. Stricker has not had a lot of joy at this event but has served notice that this could be his week.
Tim Clark fell victim to Phil Mickelson’s amazing birdie last year but is well positioned to not only atone for that disappointment but to finally win on the PGA Tour. He has a good feel for this layout, his accurate game suited to the superbly strategic layout that the Colonial Country Club offers.
Vijay Singh has rediscovered some form to be one shot further back while one of this season’ hottest player’s Sean O’Hair continues his roll with a round of 64 to be alone in 4th position.
21-year-old Jason Day, who now has a home in the Fort Worth area, is next at 10 under and alone in 5th position. Playing on limited status in 2009, Day finished runner up in Puerto Rico earlier this year and has an opportunity this week to secure his full status and perhaps even better should be win.
The next best of the Australasians is John Senden who is 17th at 5 under alongside impressive rookie James Nitties, Danny Lee continues the great start to his professional career and is at 4 under and in 21st position, Geoff Ogilvy is at 3 under, Nick O’Hern is at 2 under while last year’s joint runner up Rod Pampling, Aron Price and Adam Scott are at 1 under.
Ian Baker-Finch who got tongues wagging with his opening round of 68 struggled to a second round of 78 and has missed the cut by six.
