Bet on this tournament & other sports here

Elliott takes halfway lead

John Elliott, fresh off laser eye surgery, fired a bogey-free, four-under 66 to take a one-shot lead in Friday's second round of the Buy.com Steamtown Classic in suburban Scranton.

"The surgery has really helped my depth perception," said Elliott, whose two-day total of five-under-par 135 eclipsed the 36-hole score from last year's inaugural event by one stroke. "I played the last six years without contacts and I should have had them."

Jason Buha shot 68 for solo second at four-under after two days at the par-70 Glenmaura National Golf Club. First-round leader Jason Hill bogeyed the last hole for a one-over 71 to slip into a tie for third place with Matt Peterson at minus-two.

Elliott, who had the LASIK procedure less than a week ago, is having no trouble seeing the fairways and greens. The two-time Buy.com Tour winner has found the short grass off the tee 23 of 26 times and has hit 29 of 36 greens so far in this event.

Buha looked as if he would make some noise with two birdies over his first five holes on Friday. However, he carded pars over the remaining 13 holes and was left thinking of what could have been.

"I shouldn't be frustrated, but I am after not making any more birdies," Buha said. "I was never in any real danger of making a bogey, but I'm striking the ball great. If I could have gotten the putter going, I think I could have separated myself a little bit."

Pat Perez and Jonathan Byrd equaled Elliott's 66 -- the best round of the tournament -- for a share of fifth place with 11 others at one-under 139.

The 36-hole cut fell at four-over 144, the highest cut on the Buy.com Tour this season. A total of 64 player survived to play on the weekend, among them Glenmaura National host professional Cleve Coldwater, who shot 71-73 to land right on the cut line.

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