Eric Booker, a PGA Tour rookie, made the transition from the Nike Tour look easy today, shooting a bogey-free 63 for a share of the second-round lead in the $2.6 million Compaq Classic.

Booker, fourth in earnings on the Nike Tour last year, birdied half the holes on the course, including the 18th, considered one of the toughest holes on the PGA Tour. He sank a 20-foot putt from just off the green to complete his round.

"Today was just fun," Booker said. "It was just a great day. Making the birdie on 18 was nice. I always like to please the crowd."

Booker's two-day total of 131, 13 strokes under par, tied him for the lead with Omar Uresti. They were two clear of Steve Flesch and three up on Blaine McCallister.

David Duval, the leading money winner on the PGA Tour, did not make the cut, following a first-round 70 with a 74 today for a two-day total of 144.

"I just didn't play well," Duval said. "If I knew why, I'd have corrected it."

Duval, who had won 11 of his last 36 PGA Tour starts entering this week, including four of 10 this year, hadn't missed a cut since the Sprint International last year, a stretch of 15 events. The last two times Duval failed to make the cut, he won the following week.

"I don't play to make the cut," Duval said. "I play to win."

Uresti wasn't happy with his putting despite shooting 65.

"I was able to make some short birdie putts," Uresti said. "I made three or four inside two feet. I was striking the ball really well, getting it close."

Uresti made seven birdies in his second straight bogey-free round, four on putts of three feet or less.

For a second day, the English Turn course known for its mean streak played kindly. The 7,116-yard, par-72 course, usually one of the toughest stops on the PGA Tour, gave up 31 eagles the first two days after allowing 29 in four rounds last year.

Uresti, who played in the morning before sun dried the greens, hit 13 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens.

"This course requires a lot of patience off the tee. I like that, because I'm a good ball striker," Uresti said.

Flesch, last year's PGA Tour rookie of the year, shot a second-round 67 for a two-day total of 133.

"This is a good course for me," said Flesch, who finished second in New Orleans last year. "The greens got tough and you have to hit it close to the hole. I was able to do that and made a lot of birdies."

McCallister, who had a share of the first-round lead, stayed in contention with a second-round 69 that put him at 134.

McCallister, who hasn't won a tournament since 1993 and barely held onto his tour exemption last year, offset two bogeys with four birdies to make the cut for only the fourth time this year.

"I've had a lot of weekends off, so it feels good to be in this position," McCallister said. "Now I'm just going about my game, making some good swings and putting it on the green."

Frank Lickliter, who also had a share of the first-round lead, followed a 65 with a 70. He had five birdies in his round but also suffered three bogeys, the last at No. 18.

Lickliter, whose best career finish on tour is a tie for fourth, is 28th in earnings.

"I played really solid, but made a couple of mistakes," Lickliter said. "There are a lot of holes left. If I can just keep playing solid, I'll be happy."

Among those not making the cut were Brad Faxon, John Daly and Payne Stewart.