Huston takes two shot lead

John Huston shot his second straight 66 Friday and held a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

Huston began the day in a three-way tie for the lead and ended it at 12-under 132 after two trips around the 7,199-yard course at Annandale Golf Club.

"I played probably better today than I did (Thursday)," he said. "I missed a couple of short birdie putts, but other than that I did putt pretty well. Everything was clicking pretty well."

First-round co-leader Hidemichi Tanaka was second at 134. He started his round with a double bogey on No. 10, but rebounded with five birdies on the back nine for a 68.

Tim Clark and Chris Anderson matched Huston's low round of 66 and were tied for third at 135.

Playing in the afternoon after Huston set the pace early, Clark birdied his first three holes.

"I really wanted to get to probably 10, 11 under. I had some shots to get there, but didn't make some putts coming in," said Clark, who finished third at the PGA Championship in August.

Defending champion Luke Donald shot a 67 and was tied with Paul Stankowski (68) and Shigeki Maruyama (68) at 136.

The other first-round co-leader, Carlos Franco, fell off the pace with a 72 that left him six strokes back.

Huston took five weeks off to rest and rehab his chronically sore shoulder and an aching elbow before returning to competition last week at the Valero Texas Open.

He has regularly taken long breaks during the season in recent years.

"Whenever I feel my body getting dragged down with little aches and pains," he said.

The time off appears to have rejuvenated him.

"Right now, it feels pretty good. It's not a factor at all," he said.

Huston, who started on the back nine, closed strong for the second straight day. He made birdies on three of his last five holes, highlighted by a well-played chip on No. 7.

Huston's second shot on the par-5, 556-yard hole sailed right and into the short, fluffy rough about 25 yards from the pin. It was one of the few times he found himself in trouble, but he said he wasn't all that concerned.

"Out of this kind of grass you can almost play it like a bunker shot," he said.

Huston popped a pitching wedge onto the green that rolled to a stop 3 feet short of the hole.

"I hit it just perfect," he said.

He made the putt to go to 11 under and followed it with another birdie on the par-3 8th.

With a chance for another birdie, Huston missed a 12-footer by inches on No. 9. He flipped his club as the ball crept past the hole and settled for par to complete a bogey-free round.

Huston, 42, is looking to become the 10th 40-plus player to win on tour this season.

The six-time winner credited improved equipment and the Champions Tour, which gives older players a reason to stay sharp, for the veterans' success.

Experience can be a plus, too.

"Certainly as you get older you get a little bit smarter," he said.

Corey Pavin, 43, was in a group five strokes back after a second-round 68 in ideal conditions.

He expects scores to stay low.

"If the wind doesn't blow there will be a lot of birdies out there," the 1995 U.S. Open champion said. "There's a lot of birdies out there now."

Not enough for John Daly, though.

The two-time major champion had a second-round 83 that included a 7 on which he six-putted.

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