Ron Streck maintains two shot lead

Ron Streck didn't come close to matching his spectacular opening round at the Commerce Bank Championship on Saturday. Still, he's in the lead entering the final round of a tournament for the first time.

Streck, looking for his first Champions Tour title, followed his first-round 62 with a 3-under 68, staying two strokes in front with a 12-under 130 total after 36 holes.

Tom Jenkins had a second-round 63 on the 6,989-yard Red Course at Eisenhower Park and was tied for second with Dave Eichelberger (67) and Craig Stadler (68). Five players were another stroke back, setting up what could be the tour's fifth straight playoff to decide a winner.

This is the first time in his 28-plus years on the PGA and Champions tours that Streck has entered the final round with a lead.

``I was just trying to do the same thing I did yesterday,'' Streck said, referring to his nine-birdie, no-bogey opening round that had him two strokes in front. ``I didn't hit as close as I did yesterday, obviously, and tomorrow I'll just try to play the same.''

Streck is 65th on the money list this year with $98,000 and his best finish was a tie for 21st last week at the Bank of America Championship. He won twice on the PGA Tour -- at San Antonio in 1979 and at Houston in 1981. He closed his first tour win with rounds of 63 and 62 to beat Lee Trevino and Hubert Green by one stroke.

In 1981, Streck was the first player to use a metal wood in competition on the PGA Tour.

Dan Pohl (66), D.A. Weibring (67), John Harris (67), Gary McCord (68) and Darrell Kestner (68) were all at 9 under. Kestner could have Sunday's biggest gallery considering he is the pro at Deepdale Golf Club, about 6 miles away.

``This is the only place I'm bigger than Hale Irwin,'' Kestner said with a laugh.

Jenkins is second on the money list this year with $959,000, about $250,000 behind leader Dana Quigley. He has one win (Allianz Championship last month) and two seconds this year, but this was his low round of the season and one shot off his career best.

``You never know when these rounds are going to happen,'' said Jenkins, who has six Champions Tour wins. ``It was one of those special days when you see the line, and the touch and feel is there.''

Jenkins, who opened with a 69, had eight birdies Saturday -- including five in a row starting at No. 9. His longest birdie putt was a 20-footer on the par-4 11th and his last was a 5-footer on the par-5 17th after a flop shot out of some deep greenside rough.

``It was one of those lucky days,'' said Jenkins, who finished 13th on the money list last year, his sixth straight in the tour's top 30.

The 61-year-old Eichelberger is four spots behind Streck on the money list.

``I played about as good as I can play,'' he said after his round that included six birdies, all from 6 feet or closer. ``The scoring is going to be low so I have to get out there and shoot another 65.''

Two-time defending champion Jim Thorpe bogeyed his final hole in a 67 that left him 6 under for the tournament, six shots off the lead.

``This course is giving up too many birdies for anyone to come from way behind,'' said Thorpe, who had a 60 on this course in 2003. ``I just have to birdie every hole tomorrow to have any chance.''

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