Funk, who nearly withdrew with a sore back before Thursday's opening round, held off the challenge of rookie of the year candidate Steve Flesch, veteran D.A. Weibring and David Duval, the PGA Tour's leading money-winner, with a 14-under-par 130 total through 36 holes.

The 42-year-old Funk, in his 10th full year on the tour and a co-leader with Jim Carter after the first day, made two birdies on his final three holes today to give him some breathing room in bidding for the $270,000 first prize.

Funk would be a lock with a win here for a spot in The Tour Championship -- only the top 30 on the money list qualify -- later this month in Atlanta. That event has a whopping first prize of $720,000 and a minimum paycheck of $64,000. He is currently No. 30 on the money list with $825,458.

"A win would be great. The top 30 is a big goal,'' said Funk. "That's why I'm playing here, grinding hard at the end of the year.''

Flesch, who shot a 66, was three shots back at 133, tied with Weibring, who had a 65.

Another stroke back was Duval, who had a 68-134 over the par-72, 7,057-yard Mountain View course at the Callaway Gardens resort. Carter, who had a 71, and Bill Glasson, who had a 65, were also tied with Duval, who has won three tournaments and $2,070,283 so far this year.

"I really was conscious of the fact that David Duval was up there,'' said Funk. "I think he's the best player in the world right now, and when he gets on a roll, he's tough to beat.''

But, so is Funk on this course 75 miles southwest of Atlanta. He won in 1995 and lost to Michael Bradley in a five-man playoff in 1996.

"It's a place I'm comfortable with,'' he said. "I've got a good record here and I'm looking forward to the weekend.''

Funk had six birdies and two bogeys in his round. Flesch, who has four top-10 finishes and is 35th on the money list at $720,247, had six birdies and his only bogey on his last hole when he missed a 4-foot putt.

"I played really good. That was the only one I missed all day,'' said Flesch, who also would move into the top 30 in earnings with a win here.

"That would be great. It would exceed anything I expected,'' said the 31-year-old, who qualified for the tour by finishing fourth in earnings on the Nike Tour last year.

Funk, who won earlier this year at the Deposit Guaranty Classic for his fifth career PGA Tour victory, had considered withdrawing when his back acted up Thursday. But a half-hour of physical therapy loosened it up and he had no problems today.

The strong field has 19 of the top 30 money-winners, including Vijay Singh, the PGA champion, who was at 139 after a 70. Defending champion Davis Love III also was at 139 after a 70. Hal Sutton, who won last week's Westin Texas Open, had a 66 and was at 138.

Divots: Funk's 14-under was the lowest after two rounds in this tournament since it switched from Columbus to Callaway Gardens in 1991. The previous best was 13-under held by three players. ... The 36-hole cut was at 3-under 141, the lowest ever at this tournament, which began in 1970 as the Southern Open. Some casualties were Steve Lowery, who holds the tournament single-round record of 60 and shot a 74 today for a 144, and Tom Watson, who skied to a 76-146. ... Georgia Tech's Matt Kuchar, who was the low amateur at The Masters earlierthis year, shot a 72 in Thursday's opening round but came back with a 67 today to make the cut at 5-under.

Second Round Scores

First Round