Leonard and Lewis share lead into weekend

Justin Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion, fashioned a six-under-par 64 in blustery conditions to tie JL Lewis for the second-round lead at the PGA Tour's Colonial tournament on Friday.

Leonard, playing in steady 20 mph winds which gusted to 30 mph, finished on six-under 134. Lewis, one of the early starters, had a 66 in less trying conditions.

First-round leader Craig Perks of New Zealand, another afternoon starter, carded a one-over 71 to share third place on 135 with Robert Gamez, Jeff Maggert and Steve Flesch.

Twice U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen, Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson were tied for seventh position another stroke back.

World number five Phil Mickelson, the U.S. Masters champion, shot a 66 to move into a tie for 10th on 137 alongside Tom Byrum, Swede Jesper Parnevik, Dennis Paulson, Brian Gay, Tim Petrovic and Bo Van Pelt.

Leonard said the conditions at the Colonial Country Club became more difficult as the day wore on.

"The greens got pretty dried out this afternoon with the wind blowing as hard as it was," he told reporters.

"There was just no let-up today. Even the easy holes are hard when the wind is blowing like this."

Leonard has experienced a trying year on the tour. He made the cut in 11 of 12 tournaments entering the Colonial but with only one top-10 finish.

"I've been struggling the last couple of months and showing signs of playing well at times, so to go out and shoot a round today like I did, it feels very good," he said. "Hopefully this is the beginning of some good play."

Leonard birdied five of his first 10 holes before making an eagle on the par-five 11th to reach seven-under for his round. He ended with two bogeys and another birdie.

The key to playing well in trying conditions, he said, was to carefully choose the times to be bold.

"There are times when, whether I'm in between clubs or the shot just doesn't feel right, I play safe, and I did that today," Leonard said. "You can't just go hit it at every hole."

Although Perks's 71 was seven strokes worse than his score on Thursday, the New Zealander battled well after an atrocious start in which he stumbled to four-over for his round through five holes.

"I was proud of myself the way I hung in there and turned what could have been an awful day into still one back of the lead," Perks said. "Four-over after five, I was just trying to break 80."

Davis Love III, the highest-ranked player in the field at number four in the world, rebounded from his opening four-over 74 with a three-under 67 for a total of 141.

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