Elder extends lead to two shots

Brad Elder paused to think, and still couldn't remember the last time he started a tournament this well.

Elder shot a 5-under 67 Friday to push his lead to two strokes after two rounds of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

"It's probably been .... I played well at the Texas Open. It's been a long time. I haven't had a start like this in a while," said Elder, who is trying to cap the worst season of his three-year career with his first victory.

The 27-year-old made six birdies and an eagle to offset his three bogeys and was at 12-under 132 after two trips around the 7,199-yard Annandale Golf Club course.

Defending champion Cameron Beckman used some strong long-distance putting to shoot a 68 and was one of five players tied for second.

"It's weird. All of a sudden things are going good again," said Beckman, who missed four straight cuts coming into this tournament. "I probably made five putts this week I shouldn't have, 30 feet or better."

Rookie Jonathan Byrd, former NCAA champion Luke Donald, Brad Faxon and Deane Pappas were also at 10-under 134.

Chad Campbell's 66 was the best score on a chilly and cloudy day. It left him tied for seventh with Kirk Triplett, three strokes behind the leader.

The players at the top of the leaderboard aren't the only ones with a lot on the line at the last PGA Tour event of the season. Many here are trying to earn enough money to secure playing privileges for next season.

The top 125 on the money list are fully exempt for 2003. Those below 125 have to earn their cards at Q School.

Elder is 173rd on the money list, so it's win or bust for him.

Elder's struggles this year prompted him to rework his swing with a coach over the last six months. He's finally starting to see some results.

Elder rolled through his first 15 holes Friday in 7 under, including an eagle on the 522-yard No. 5.

But he couldn't stay out of the rough on his last three holes, and dropped two strokes. He lipped out a 6-foot putt that could have saved par on the par-4 9th, his final hole.

Part of his new routine is two waggles before every shot.

"I do my two waggles to get a feel for what I want to do. On the third one, I hit it," he said. "It's all feel, to get in a certain spot. If I didn't do my waggles I'd probably never get there. I'd revert back to my old ways."

Craig Barlow and David Frost, Nos. 124 and 125 on the money list, didn't make the cut, though both have exemptions that could get them on the tour next season.

Frost, who shot a 5-over 149, has a one-time exemption for being in the top 50 in career earnings.

Barlow shot a 40 on the back nine Friday to finish at even-par 144. A medical exemption will allow him to play the first seven tournaments next season.

Kaname Yokoo, No. 127, couldn't take advantage, finishing at 1-over 145. He completed his second-round 74 by tossing his putter toward the lake next to the ninth green. Befitting of his two days here, the club clipped a tree branch and fell short of the water.

Mike Sposa, who is 130th, just made the cut at 2-under 142. He needs a top-10 finish to avoid Q school.

"I was kind of keeping the dream alive," said Sposa, who shot a 70 Friday. "With the ball in your hand you can get on a run out here."

The tour's top 30 money-winners qualify for next year's U.S. Open.

Faxon is 31st in earnings and could slip past some of the top 30 players competing in the Tour Championship in Atlanta this week by staying near the lead.

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