Levi on top of leaderboard again

Wayne Levi is becoming a fixture atop the leaderboard.

One week after going wire-to-wire, Levi led for the second straight day at the Administaff Small Business Classic, shooting a 5-under 67 Saturday for a two-stroke lead over D.A Weibring after two rounds.

"I don't have control over any of those other guys, but if I keep making birdies, it's going to be hard for them to beat me," Levi said. "When I get up into a lead like this, I guess it produces a greater focus. I pay more attention to everything that's going on."

The 52-year-old Levi, who is coming off a victory at the Constellation Energy Classic and bidding for consecutive wins for the first time in his career, moved to 13-under 131 at Augusta Pines Golf Club. Weibring carded a 7-under 65 to get to 133.

Hale Irwin (68) is two more shots back at 135.

Walter Hall, who shared a two-shot lead with Levi after an opening 64, had a second-round 72 and dropped five strokes off the pace. He's tied with Peter Jacobsen (67), Jim Thorpe (69), John Harris (69) and Jim Dent (70) at 136.

Levi surged to the lead quickly in the second round, making birdies on four of his first five holes. He added a birdie at No. 13 to get to 14 under, but lost a stroke at 17 with his first bogey in 53 holes.

"I hit a good shot there, so I didn't even feel it was a bogey," said Levi, a 12-time winner on the PGA tour. "I really got off to a good start and I had enough opportunities to make even more shots, but when you shoot a 5 under, you've got to feel good."

Weibring extended his streak of rounds of par or better to 20.

"Wayne is playing great and the greens are terrific, probably as good as we've had all year," Weibring said. "It's (course) going to give up some good scores. It's going to make for an exciting finish."

A transplanted Texan, Weibring was loose throughout the second round, getting updates on the progress of the Texas-Oklahoma football game and the Astros and Braves playoff game from scorekeepers.

"When it's time to focus, you focus, but after that I like a distraction," Weibring said. "I like the way I'm playing now. I've always wanted to win at tournament in Texas. I feel ready to win another tournament."

Weibring had three birdies and an eagle on his first four holes to move into contention for his second title of the year. He won the Allianz Championship in May and has 14 top-10 finishes this season.

Wayne Levi leads the tournament with a 1.581 putts per GIR average. (AP)
He tied for sixth at last week's Constellation Energy Classic and hasn't had an over-par round since a 73 in the first round of the Greater Hickory Classic on Aug. 20.

Craig Stadler, who has won his last three Champions Tour starts, opened the round five shots behind the leaders and dropped nine strokes off the pace after a 1-under 71. He is attempting to match Chi Chi Rodriguez's 1987 tour record of four straight victories.

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