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Gossett moves ahead after shooting 64

David Gossett fired a career-low, seven-under- par 64 Friday to grab a one-shot lead halfway through the John Deere Classic. His 11-under 131 puts him ahead of Kent Jones and two in front of Edward Fryatt.

Bradley Hughes (65), Briny Baird (65), Matt Gogel (66), Bob May (67), Paul Stankowski (67), David Morland IV (68), Jerry Smith (69) and Paul Gow (69) share fourth place at minus-eight.

Gossett, the 1999 U.S. Amateur champion who spends most weeks on the Buy.com Tour, caught fire late in his round Friday. He bogeyed No. 12, but rebounded at the next hole when he wedged his approach to 12 feet to set up birdie.

The 22-year-old added another birdie at 14 after another brilliant wedge shot, this one landing eight feet from the cup. Gossett made it three in a row with a five-iron approach to three feet.

His birdie chance at the 16th lipped out, but Gossett took advantage of the par-five 17th when he two-putted for birdie from the fringe.

"What goes through my mind is obviously I'm playing very well and I want to take that thought process and that will give me confidence," said Gossett, who is 14th on the Buy.com Tour money list thanks to a tie for second two weeks ago. "I'm pleased to be here, but I'm just really encouraged to play on the weekend, to see what happens."

Jones had five birdies on his first nine, the back at the TPC at Deere Run, and added a 12-foot birdie at his 11th. At the fifth, Jones never recovered from his second shot, reaching a greenside bunker, and carded his first bogey of the round.

He more than made up for the mistake at five when his sand wedge approach from 104 yards at No. 6 landed a step behind the hole and spun into the cup for an eagle-two.

"I felt like I'd been swinging well and my putting has been drastically improved the last two days," said Jones, whose 64 was also his best round on the PGA Tour, besting the 65 he shot at this year's Greater Hartford Open. "That's probably been the difference."

Gossett two-putted from 25 feet for birdie at No. 2 and drained birdie putts from seven, 10 and 12 feet for a front-nine 31.

His only mistake of the round came at the par-three 12th. Gossett ripped a three-iron that ran through the green and landed his chip inside of four feet. He missed that putt but his awesome finish kept him in the lead.

"I've got a lot to work on, but I'm really excited to continue the process," said Gossett, who is in only his fifth tournament this season on the PGA Tour.

Overnight leaders Andrew McLardy and J.L. Lewis never made a move on Friday. McLardy shot an even-par 72 to sit in a tie for 12th at seven-under 135, while Lewis struggled to a one-over 73 and is knotted in 19th place, five shots off the lead.

Defending champion Michael Clark II recovered from his opening-round 74 with a 69 on Friday, but missed the 36-hole cut by two shots with his one-over 143.

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