David Edwards vaults into lead with 63

David Edwards is 49 and nearing the end of his long PGA career. He can still come up with one of those special rounds.

Winless on the PGA Tour since 1993 and playing in only his sixth tournament of the year, Edwards shot a 9-under 63 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the B.C. Open.

Edwards was at 15-under 129, one shot off the 36-hole tournament record set in 1987 by two-time champion Joey Sindelar and matched two years ago by Steve Lowery.

First-round co-leader Matt Hendrix (67) was one stroke back.

Australia's Brendan Jones (64) and Ryan Palmer (64) were tied for third at 131. Jason Bohn (68) and Sweden's Mathias Gronberg (67) were another shot back, and Ben Crane (69), Arjun Atwal (68), P.H. Horgan III (65), and Mike Springer (69) were at 133.

First-round co-leader Glen Day followed his opening 63 with a 71, managing just two birdies on a day when they again were there for the taking.

Edwards, who joined the PGA Tour full-time in 1979, had three birdies on the back nine, then reeled off five straight after making the turn. He needed just 22 putts on the round.

``It's been quite a while,'' said Edwards, who has not won since the MCI Heritage Classic in 1993, a span of 197 starts. ``It's nice to kind of be competitive again. I've been able to make cuts the last couple of years, but I haven't finished very high in too many tournaments.''

His best finish this year was a 63rd at the MCI Heritage in April, and these days are focused on the future.

``It's a step forward for me in trying to kind of get back to being competitive and getting ready for the senior tour,'' said Edwards, who missed the cut last week at the John Deere Classic despite opening with a 68, his first sub-70 round of the year. ``If I got there (to Sunday) and had only one more round to play, that would be better.''

Scores continued to go low over the short-and-narrow En-Joie Golf Club course, which was flooded in April and opened for the first time this year for this tournament. A light drizzle in early afternoon on what was another steamy day helped keep the greens soft and holding, and the players again took advantage. Day was the only player among the top 22 not to break 70.

Jones made seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey in the best round of his rookie year and needed only 21 putts, eight fewer than the first round. His erratic play earlier in the year seems forgotten, at least for now.

``My whole game's starting to turn around over the last 4 to 6 weeks,'' said the 30-year-old Jones, who skied to an 80 after an opening 65 and failed to make the cut at the Houston Open in April. ``My form in the last month has been getting a lot better. I feel like my game is finally adjusting to being over here and playing the PGA Tour. I just thought about how I played the first part of the year. I've had good starts and then haven't gone on with it. A few weeks back there, I was ready to pack up and go back to Australia.''

Palmer, playing the B.C. Open for the first time, hit 11 of 14 fairways, 16 greens, and needed 26 putts to complete his round. He also made five straight birdies to move into contention. The first came at the water-guarded 15th, the most difficult hole on the course. He hit a pitching wedge from 130 yards to 8 feet and made the putt, drained a 14-footer at No. 16 and then made three more birdie putts from inside 9 feet.

``I come in here with a lot of confidence,'' Palmer said. ``It's not the strongest field with the British Open (going on), so I think it gives me an opportunity to come out and possibly get a win. It's still a golf tournament, and it's still a tournament to be won.''

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