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David Toms regains lead
Whether or not it's his
beverage of choice, David Toms loves Michelob.
Toms moved closer to his
second straight Michelob Championship title Saturday, shooting a 4-under-par 67
for a two-shot lead over Esteban Toledo of Mexico.
Ranked ninth in the world,
Toms had six birdies and a pair of bogeys to reach 12-under 201 at blustery Kingsmill
Resort, where he defeated Mike Weir in a playoff last season.
"I knew I drove the
ball well, especially early, when conditions were tough," said Toms, who
did not miss any of the 14 fairways. "I hit the ball solid and and kept it
in the fairway and hit some good iron shots. You have to hit the ball solid when
it's windy to keep it on line, and I was able to do that."
Before a second-round 70,
Toms opened the tournament with a 64 that included four birdie putts of at least
25 feet and was just one stroke off the best round of his career.
Toms is having the season
of his career. He has won a pair of events, including the PGA Championship, and
a career-best $2,677,267, which puts him fifth on the money list.
Toledo is in an unlikely
position -- the final group on Sunday. He is winless in five seasons on tour and
has not been in the top 10 in 32 starts this year.
A 68 has Toledo alone in
second at 10-under 203.
"I always dream to
win a tournament on the PGA Tour," said Toledo, who captured the 2000 Mexican
Open. "It has always been on my mind. I think if I really try tomorrow, it
might not happen. I am just going to let it happen."
Toms was able to double
his lead at the par-4 18th hole. As darkness crept in, he drained a long birdie
putt.
"It was dark. I couldn't
tell how long it was," Toms said. "That was probably 35, 40 feet. It
was a long putt."
As the defending champion
who stands ninth on the money list and a member of the Ryder Cup team, Toms is
one of the bigger names at this event, which is missing the usual star-studded
PGA Tour field. However, he doesn't think his standing counts for much.
"I don't think anyone
would be intimidated from me," said Toms, who spent his fairway strolls trying
to find out the score of the Oklahoma-Texas college football game. "I think
they would think that, `Hey, this guy is probably going to play good; I am going
to have to play good golf to beat him.' But as far as the intimidation factor,
I think that is long gone."
Toledo birdied three of
the first five holes but bogeyed the par-4 sixth. He added two birdies and a bogey
on the back nine.
"I am not going to
put pressure on myself," Toledo said. "Tomorrow I am going to go and
just fire it up there in the beginning, just like I did at the Mexican Open last
year."
Jose Coceres of Argentina,
Kirk Triplett, Neal Lancaster and Chris Riley are tied for third at 204. Coceres,
who won the 1994 Heineken Open, matched Toms and two others for the best round
of the day with a bogey-free 67.
"I drink beer,"
Coceres said through an interpreter. "I like beer but not too much. I drink
wine, good wine."
The tournament has added
significance to a handful of players. There are five events remaining for those
also-rans to finish in the top 125 on the money list and retain their tour cards.
Lancaster is 135th and Michael Muehr, who is tied for seventh at 205, is 141st.
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