Pate and May take narrow lead

Steve Pate shot a 6-under-par 65 today for a share of the second-round lead with Bob May in the FedEx St. Jude Classic.

Pate, who has struggled this year after winning the PGA Tour's Comeback Player award last year, had eight birdies and two bogeys for a 10-under 132 total.

"I feel fortunate. It's nice being in the position I'm in. I'm not real concerned if it's leading or not. After two days, it's just nice to be shooting a good score,'' said Pate, who hasn't finished in the top 10 once this year.

May shot a 66, with five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys. But May, who had to go through qualifying to get back on the PGA Tour this year, isn't counting any money yet.

"There's a long way to go,'' said May, who finished 13th after sharing the 54-hole lead in the Las Vegas Invitational last October. "We're only halfway through the race. I'm not looking that far ahead. I'm happy with where I'm at.''

Russ Cochran (66) and Joe Ogilvie (68) were tied at 133. David Toms, who shared a one-stroke lead with David Peoples and Ogilvie after the first round, had the lead by himself at 11 under when he fell apart with two double bogeys. He finished with a 69 to match Chris DiMarco (68) at 134.

Robert Damron (64) was tied at 135 with Craig Parry (65) and Doug Dunakey (65).

John Daly was among those missing the cut of even-par 142. He was at 1-under with three holes left when he added a triple-bogey 7 to a round that included four bogeys, a double bogey, four birdies and an eagle. He finished with a 74 for a 144 total.

Pate has never played well in this tournament, missing the cut in five of his eight previous appearances. This didn't seem like the year when his luck would change.

After having his best year on tour in 1999 with $1.75 million in earnings, Pate has only two top-20 finishes. His best was a tie for 14th in the Buick Invitational, the first week of February.

Pate thinks his luck has changed.

"Every time I've had an opportunity to get a bad break, it hasn't happened,'' said Pate, who drove into the rough twice only to recover with birdies.

He also putted well. Pate's closest birdie putt was a 5-footer on No. 2, and his 20-footer on the par-3 fourth started a three-birdie stretch that gave him a share of the lead.

May started his round with a birdie and then hit into a bunker on the par-3 11th, which is a smaller version of the famous 17th at the TPC at Sawgrass. He chipped to 4 feet from, but missed the putt and settled for his first bogey of the tournament.

He pushed a 3-foot putt on the par-4 second for his second bogey.

Other than that, May putted well, sinking putts ranging from an 8-footer for birdie on No. 10 to a 20-footer for eagle on the par-5 No. 16. He went to 10 under as he strung together birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 before his eagle on 16.

May said he fixed his putting stroke last week in the U.S. Open where he tied for 23rd, his best finish on tour.

"Hopefully it'll carry on through this weekend,'' he said.

Neither Pate nor May have strung together three straight rounds in the 60s yet this year, and Pate said scoring low will be the challenge for whoever wins.

"This is not a place where you can sit on a lead and try to make pars,'' he said.

DIVOTS: Keith Clearwater, who got into the tournament as an alternate, withdrew TOday after shooting a 36 on his first nine holes. He started the day at 5-over. Kevin Barker withdrew after becoming ill, and Ted Schulz withdrew following a 78 on Thursday.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page