ACE Group Classic 2006

Loren Roberts shot a 66 Saturday to grab a share of the lead after two rounds of The ACE Group Classic as he attempts to win three straight tournaments on the Champions Tour.

Roberts, Don Pooley and Brad Bryant are tied at 11-under 133, one shot ahead of Rick Karbowski.

Pooley and Bryant each birdied No. 18 to get in the $1.6-million event at The Club at TwinEagles.

Roberts has won three of the eight Champions Tour events he's entered, including the first two of the year, since turning 50 last summer.

No one has won the first three tournaments to open a Champions Tour season.

"Obviously that's an achievement that, for me, would be outstanding," Roberts said. "I'm not going to dwell on it until the last couple of holes. We'll see what happens."

Roberts quickly shook off a first-hole bogey with birdies on the next three holes.

Even with a three-way tie, Bryant said Roberts remains the favorite to win Sunday.

"He's going to be really tough to beat," Bryant said.

Karbowski, a tour rookie, sank a 38-foot birdie putt on No. 18 and is in fourth at 10-under. Hale Irwin, a two-time winner, Danny Edwards and first-round leader R.W. Eaks are tied for fifth at 8 under. Eaks said he was not feeling well, and possibly had food poisoning.

Karbowski birdied the 108th hole at Champions Tour Q-School to grab the seventh and final exempt spot for 2006. Irwin had a 66, but missed a 5-foot eagle putt on No. 13, an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 17 and a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

Edwards had the round of the day, an 8-under 64 , shooting 5-under on the front nine, his last nine holes.

Tom Watson, a shot off the lead going in, shot a 71 and is tied for eighth with Peter Jacobsen, Keith Fergus, 2005 Player of the Year Dana Quigley, and Fuzzy Zoeller.

Defending champion Mark James shot a 73 and is tied for 58th.