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Pettersson & Cabrera tied for lead

European Tour rookie Carl Pettersson of Sweden shot three-under 67 Saturday to join second-round leader Angel Cabrera atop the leaderboard at nine-under- par 201 after 54 holes of the Argentina Open. Spain's Tomas Jesus Munoz stands one shot back at minus-eight.

Cabrera, a local favorite who hails from Cordoba, Argentina, harnessed the support from the gallery to remain in the hunt with a one-under 69.

The 31-year-old Cabrera, a four-time runner-up on the European circuit, was the overnight leader at The Jockey Club but saw his two- shot advantage evaporate with bogeys at the second and sixth holes. He began to right himself with a birdie just before the turn, then added birdies at the 12th and 15th to finish the day with a share of the lead.

"Today was a very difficult day," said Cabrera, the winner of two titles in South America. "I had to work hard out there. I needed to stay calm and got it back to under par, which was the important thing.

"It was difficult to leave it near the hole as the greens were faster today and the pins in difficult positions. Tomorrow I need to see how others are playing to see if it is necessary to attack or play safe to the greens."

Pettersson, a four-time All-American while at North Carolina State, captured the European Amateur Championship in 2000. After turning professional in September, the 23-year-old finished 20th at November's Q-School to earn a spot on the 2001 European Tour.

The Swede, who turned in a card with five birdies and two bogeys Saturday, recorded his first birdie after hitting his drive into a fairway bunker at the fourth. Although his second shot landed in another bunker about 50 yards short of the green, Pettersson holed his next shot for a birdie three at the 469-yard par-four.

"I'm very excited about this tournament and tomorrow," said Pettersson, whose best showing of the season was a tie for seventh in last month's Malaysian Open. "I don't think there is any extra pressure because this is my first year. I will just go out and enjoy myself and see what happens."

Munoz, who won his playing card in 1998 on his fourth attempt, underwent surgery on his left hand and made only seven starts in 1999. He played in 13 events in 2000, with his best finish a tie for 29th at the Madeira Island Open. Munoz has never finished higher than 22nd on the European Tour.

"I'm in a very good position to finish this tournament," said Munoz, who briefly held the lead after a 35-foot birdie putt at 16 took him to nine-under. "If I can shoot a couple under I might have a chance."

The Spaniard dropped a shot with a bogey at 17 to finish the day a stroke ahead of Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, Englishman Graeme Storm and Italy's Costantino Rocca.

Rocca, seeking his sixth career victory and his first since the 1999 West of Ireland Golf Classic, vaulted into contention with Saturday's co-low round of five-under 65.

Jorge Berendt is alone in seventh place at six-under 204. Mauricio Molina, Daren Lee, Hennie Otto and Eduardo Romero share eighth at five-under par.

Six players are knotted at four-under 206, while first-round leader Angel Franco shot a one-over 71 Saturday to join seven others at minus-three.

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