Dougherty open two shot advantage

Ed Dougherty shot a 7-under-par 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Bruce Fleisher after the second round of the Audi Senior Classic.

Dougherty, a two-time senior winner, had an eagle and six birdies to reach 8-under 136 on the tree-lined Capultepec course that stretches to 7,119 yards at an altitude of 7,800 feet.

``I'll just try to do the best that I can tomorrow and see where the cards fall,'' Dougherty said. ``I'm thrilled and lucky to play a good round on as good of course as this is.''

Fleisher, seeking his 15th victory in four years on the senior tour, shot a 66 after opening with a 72 on Friday as the players battled through shifting wind conditions.

``After making a couple of early putts, I got some confidence going,'' Fleisher said. ``This keeps gets you so off-balance and makes you think a lot. Club selection is hard because of the altitude.''

Gary McCord (66) and Walter Morgan (68) were four strokes back at 140, and Bruce Lietzke (66) and Hugh Baiocchi (68) followed at 141. Hale Irwin (69) and first-round leader Dana Quigley (73) were six strokes behind at 142.

Dougherty, coming off a season-best 12th-place tie last week in Florida in the Verizon Classic, hit a 5-wood shot to 4 feet to set up an eagle on No. 8 as he played the front nine in 6-under 30.

``I had a great front nine,'' Dougherty said. ``Making the 5-footer on the first hole gave me confidence.''

Fleisher has three top-five finishes in four starts this year, including a third-place tie last week in the Verizon Classic.

``It will be a shooting match,' Fleisher said. ``A low number can be shot out here if the conditions are good.''

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