Stephen Ames
is looking for his first PGA Tour victory. Sandy Lyle is trying to win for the
first time in 11 years.
Both were in contention to win the Texas Open after today's second round at La
Cantera Golf Club.
Ames shot a 3-under 69 and maintained his one-stroke lead despite slipups on the
back nine and threats from a pack of other players.
Lyle shot a 68, Jeff Brehaut a 67 and Brian Henninger a 66 for two-round totals
of 10-under 134, one stroke behind Ames.
Perry Moss, David Edwards and Rich Beem were two strokes back.
"I
had a lot of patience," said Ames, who kept his composure even with the three
bogeys down the stretch. "Over the years I've learned how to cope with the bad
breaks and the ups and downs of the game."
Ames birdied No. 2 and made a 6-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fifth. He bogeyed
the next hole but managed to move to 12 under by the turn.
After making a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 10th, Ames' troubles began. He bogeyed
the 11th when he couldn't get up and down out of a trap. He two-putted on the
par-3 13th then missed a 15-footer on No. 15.
A birdie on the next hole kept Ames in the lead.
"It
was up and down, yes. But I played well," Ames said. "My main goal this week is
just to enjoy it, as usual."
A native of Trinidad and a resident of Canada, the 35-year-old Ames couldn't start
playing PGA Tour events this year until May because of visa problems. Recently,
he's picked up steam with a third-place finish at the Sprint International in
August and a tie for fourth last week at the B.C. Open.
Raulerson shot a 72 and was at 7 under.
The winner of the Texas Open, sponsored by Westin, receives $360,000.
The 36-hole cut was 2 under.
Lyle not only made
the cut - something he failed to do in seven of 12 events this year - but had
his sights set on victory.
Lyle won the 1985 British Open and in 1988 became the first British winner of
the Masters, his last tour victory.
The 41-year-old Lyle is currently 202nd on the money list. His best finish this
year was a tie for 13th at the Touchstone Energy Tucson Open.
Doing well in the Texas Open is a welcome change, he said.
"This
feels good. I might get to like this sort of thing again. It would be nice to
come back like this," Lyle said, but he cautioned, "We've got two more days to
go."
He's been
working hard this year on his approach to the game and studying videotape of what
he did well in the 1980s.
"It's
been a lot of hard work, generally, this year," he said. "I'm happy with what
I'm doing, and the ball is going well."
Lyle was a member of five consecutive European Ryder Cup teams beginning in 1979.
Although he caught glimpses on the scoreboards Friday of how this year's competition
is going, he said he wasn't feeling any less pressure competing in San Antonio.
"I've got my own
battles out there," he said. "I don't think the pressure is off."
