The JCPenney Classic could not have come along at a better time for Paul Azinger.

The last round of golf that Payne Stewart played before his death in an October plane accident was at the National Car Rental Golf Classic when he was paired with Azinger. Just days later, Azinger was giving an emotional eulogy during his good friend's memorial.

"I committed here not long after the accident," Azinger said. "I said, 'I need to pull up my boot straps and just go out and play a tournament.' ... It was a tough thing to deal with. I felt if I didn't play I would start to wallow. Yes, I really did need to go play."

Azinger is doing more than just playing this week.

Azinger and Se Ri Pak shot a 7-under 64 today in the modified alternate stroke format for a share of the second-round lead with John Daly and Laura Davies. The leaders had 13-under totals on the Westin Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course.

Daly and Davies, who shared the lead with defending champs Steve Pate and Meg Mallon following Thursday's best-ball competition, shot a second-round 66.

Scott Gump and Maria Hjorth were a stroke back at 12 under after a 65. Justin Leonard and Juli Inkster (66) are 11-under, and Robert Damron and Charlotta Sorenstam (66) are 10-under.

For Azinger and Pak it has been success fashioned on the fly. They met for the first time Wednesday, but have adjusted quickly.

"We don't really know each other," Azinger said. "We're kind of just playing our own games and totaling them up in the end.

"She didn't play particularly well Thursday, but you could just tell she is confident in herself and it didn't bother her. She came out today and hit a lot of really good shots. She can play, man. She's really amazing."

Daly and Davies had no trouble finding common ground.

Not only is each player the longest hitter on their respective tours, both share a fascination with casinos. Teamed together, they were happy to apply that willingness to gamble to their golf.

"You've got to take some chances," Davies said. "You can never lay up. If you are in the trees and have a chance to hit a shot, you've got to go for the shot because there is always the chance your partner will put you in good shape anyway. If you are a gambler, this is the format you can really hit some shots for fun."

Competition in the $2 million purse event returns to best-ball play Saturday before finishing Sunday with the modified alternate shot format.

Se Ri Pak/Paul Azinger65-64--12913-under
Laura Davies/John Daly63-66--129 

Maria Hjorth/Scott Gump 65-65--13012-under

Juli Inkster/Justin Leonard 65-66--13111-under

Charlotta Sorenstam/Robert Damron 66-66--13210-under

Michelle Estill/Tom Pernice, Jr.64-69--133 9-under
Meg Mallon/Steve Pate 63-70--133 
Michelle McGann/Greg Kraft64-69--133
Barb Mucha/Tom Scherrer 64-69--133
Dawn Coe-Jones/Dudley Hart67-66--133
Melissa McNamara/Mike Springer67-66--133
Donna Andrews/Mike Hulbert65-68--133
Janice Moodie/Steve Flesch68-65--133

Dina Ammaccapane/Omar Uresti67-67--134 8-under
Lorie Kane/Mike Weir67-67--134
Tina Barrett/Fred Funk68-66--134
Marta Figueras-Dotti/Brad Bryant66-68--134
Wendy Doolan/Esteban Toledo 66-68--134
Dottie Pepper/Jeff Sluman 69-65--134
Kristi Albers/J.P. Hayes67-67--134

Cindy Figg-Currier/Tommy Armour III 67-68--135 7-under 
Kris Tschetter/John Cook66-69--135
Joan Pitcock/Bill Glasson 68-67--135
Kim Saiki/Dennis Paulson66-69--135
Catrin Nilsmark/Chris Perry 68-67--135
Pat Hurst/Rory Sabbatini 63-72--135
A.J. Eathorne/Rich Beem 68-67--135
Lisa Hackney/Chris DiMarco66-69--135
Jill McGill/J.L. Lewis65-70--135

Leslie Spalding/Dicky Pride 67-69--136 6-under
Catriona Matthew/Dan Forsman68-68--136
Jan Stephenson/Frank Lickliter64-72--136

Emilee Klein/Stewart Cink 69-68--137 5-under
Michele Redman/Skip Kendall 67-70--137
Chris Johnson/Steve Lowery68-69--137
Gloria Park/Jim Carter67-70--137

Wendy Ward/Mark Brooks68-70--138 4-under
Carin Koch/Jay Don Blake71-67--138
Rachel Hetherington/Rocco Mediate 67-71--138
Jackie Gallagher-Smith/David Toms 69-69--138
Annette DeLuca/Jerry Kelly68-70--138
Nancy Scranton/Jonathan Kaye69-69--138

Amy Fruhwirth/Clarence Rose 72-67--139 3-under
Cindy McCurdy/Franklin Langham70-69--139
Dale Eggeling/Carl Paulson68-71--139
Maggie Will/Barry Cheesman70-69--139
Leta Lindley/Tommy Tolles 67-72--139

Annika Sorenstam/Scott Hoch 68-72--140 2-under
Laura Philo/Gabriel Hjertstedt72-68--140 
Jane Crafter/Kenny Perry72-68--140
Cindy Flom/Ted Tryba67-73--140
Marisa Baena/Mark Calcavecchia66-74--140