Jeff Quinney vaults clear with 63

PGA Tour rookie Jeff Quinney shot a sizzling eight-under-par 63 to pull three shots clear in the second round of the Phoenix Open at Scottsdale, Arizona on Friday.

The 28-year-old American, who has enjoyed a red-hot start to the season with top-seven finishes in his last two events, rattled up nine birdies and a lone bogey on the Stadium Course.

That left him on 13-under 129 after more than 113,000 fans came through the turnstiles to watch the second round of a tournament widely considered the PGA Tour's party stop.

Fellow Americans Billy Mayfair and Bart Bryant fired matching 66s to share second place at 10 under with compatriots Bubba Watson (67), John Rollins (68) and Robert Garrigus (67) a further stroke back.

Eighteen players were still out on the course when play was suspended for the day in fading light following a frost-delayed start in the morning.

Of those, American Charles Howell III, the FedExCup points leader, was best placed at nine under with two holes remaining.

The halfway cut was projected to fall at two under with twice winner Phil Mickelson and U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia among those likely to miss out.

Quinney, who qualified for the 2007 PGA Tour by finishing sixth on last year's Nationwide Tour money list, surged to the top of the leaderboard with five birdies in his last eight holes.

"I was able to feel real good over the ball," the Scottsdale resident told reporters. "I was really seeing the lines and the putts well.

"It was one of those days where you get in the zone and you feel like nothing can go wrong."

Although two full rounds remain to be played, Quinney licked his lips over the possibility of winning a first PGA Tour title in his hometown.

"It would be awesome," he said. "Other than a couple majors, I think this is where I'd want to win. I've watched the Phoenix Open for many years just living here in the valley and you know how wild it gets on the weekend. I'm just going to enjoy the experience."

David Toms, winner of the 2001 PGA Championship, carded a 69 to lie five shots off the pace at eight under, two shots better than 2002 champion Chris DiMarco, who returned a second successive 68.

However, world number five and Masters champion Mickelson experienced a frustrating day as he mixed five birdies with three bogeys on his way to a 69.

That left him at one under and likely to miss the cut.

"It's not the start that I want to the year," said the American left-hander, who has finished outside the top 40 in his only other two tournaments this season.

"I'm going to go work on it this weekend and see if I can get the putter working.

"I saw improvement. I drove the ball well and hit some good iron shots, but what I didn't do well is putt. I felt awful stroking it."