Peterson takes two strokes lead

After 36 holes of the $425,000 BUY.COM Ozarks Open Matt Peterson sits alone in first place at 12-under-par, two strokes better than Greg Parker.

Peterson fired his second-consecutive 66 while Parker added a 69 to the 65 he shot on Thursday. Rocky Walcher (68), Jeff Gallagher (67), Richard Johnson (68), Pat Bates (67) and Pat Perez (69) are tied for third at 9 under, while four others are within four shots of the leader.

Thursday's leader, Vaughn Taylor, dropped into a tie for 12th after a triple bogey on No. 13 and a double bogey on No. 18.

"It was a little disappointing but there are still two days left," Taylor said after finishing the second round with a 73.

Saturday's Peterson/Parker pairing will allow the two friends to re-new their competitive rivalry.

"He's [Parker] a little older than me," said Peterson, a University of Georgia grad. "He was a senior when I was a sophomore or freshman. He played at the high school in the county next to ours in North Carolina. [We] didn't see much of each other in college but we have kept the friendship up."

Added Parker, an All-American at the University of North Carolina in 1987: "I've known Matt forever. He is a great player, a good friend."

Peterson said much like the friendship, he doesn't expect their golf games to change just because they are paired in the final grouping together.

"I'm not going to change the way I've been playing," said Peterson, who has made 11 birdies, one eagle and just one bogey during the first two rounds. "We are going to take each shot as it comes and if the opportunity is there -- I mean if we have a 3-wood over water to get to a par-5 and we feel good about it -- I'm going to take the chance.

"I haven't really hit away from many pins so far just because the greens are so soft. I don't anticipate anybody behind me will be playing conservative either. I can't control how anybody else plays, the only thing I can control is me. So, if I go out and play good and get beat, that's tough; just got to play better."

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