HONOLULU (January 15, 1999) Even with a two-stroke lead, Brandel Chamblee is likely looking over his shoulder and not at the leaderboard midway through the Sony Open.

That's because among those chasing him is John Huston, the guy who set a course record in winning here last year and who is jokingly accused by other players of being the reason officials decided to toughen the oceanside layout.

In the final Hawaiian Open last year, Huston set a tour record for a 72-hole event with a 28-under-par performance.

At the 36-hole mark of the inaugural Sony, Chamblee was at 6-under-par 134 after shooting a 66 today.

Chamblee took advantage of an early start to put together his 66.

"My short game was really sharp today. It needs to be when it's windy," he said. "These fairways are the hardest to hit on the tour. They are firm and narrow and with the wind and doglegs, it's hard to keep it in the fairway."

Huston's been kidded about the redesigned par-70, 7,060-yard course, but his focus has been on this week, not what he accomplished a year ago.

"I came in with a goal, and that's to be in contention and try to win it on the last day," he said. "If I try to match up to last year, it would be too much. My goal this week was to have a chance to win on Sunday. I don't think they made it (course) tougher because of last year's score, but I understand they had that planned."

Of his second straight 68, he said, "It was pretty difficult today. I didn't play that great, but I hung in there."

First-round leader Tommy Tolles recovered from a slow second round start and finished with a 3-over 73, enough for a share of second place with Mike Hulbert at 135.

Then came Huston, Len Mattiace and Craig Stadler.

Double-majors winner Mark O'Meara and Esteban Toledo, who started the day in second place, were grouped at 3-under 137.

John Daly and Cameron Beckman could have been right up with the leaders, but problems befell them at the par-4, 396-yard 15th.

Daly flew the green and finished with a 7 en route to a 69 for 138, while Beckman hit a tree, landed in a bunker and then four-putted for a 9 and a 72 for 139.