Van Pelt three clear at Wachovia

ATLANTA (Reuters) – American Bo Van Pelt charged into a
three-shot lead at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte,
North Carolina on Friday before rain curtailed second-round
play midway through the afternoon.

Van Pelt birdied the first two holes on the way to a
record-equaling eight-under-par 64, ending a damp morning at
Quail Hollow Club on a tournament best aggregate of 10-under
134.

The 30-year-old from Indiana, chasing his first title on
the PGA Tour, mixed nine birdies with a solitary bogey at the
par-four fourth to finish three strokes ahead of 2003 U.S. Open
champion Jim Furyk.

One of four leaders overnight after opening with a 68,
Furyk returned a 69 after bogeying two of his last three holes.

Play was suspended for 90 minutes in the afternoon because
of thunderstorms and eventually called off for the day
following a half-hour resumption with 74 players yet to
complete their rounds.

“It’s a tough golf course, and you don’t want to feel like
you’re playing catch up,” Van Pelt told reporters after
matching the tournament record 64 set by compatriot Kirk
Triplett in 2004.

“I just hit a bunch of fairways and a bunch of greens, and
the speed is everything on these greens.

“I just try to get better every day, and I figure the
results will take care of themselves,” he added of his bid to
claim a breakthrough Tour victory.

“I figure if I keep giving myself chances, one of those
Sundays is going to be my day.”

Furyk was satisfied with his round, despite bogeying 16 and
17.

“I felt like I drove the ball very, very well today,” the
35-year-old American said. “I had a little bit more control of
my game and drove it well, hit my irons better.

GOOD ROUND

“The score was one worse than yesterday, but it was a good
round of golf and I got myself in good position for the
weekend.”

Davis Love III was alone in third place at six under after
carding a second successive 69 while holder Vijay Singh was a
stroke further back after a 68 that featured five birdies in
his last eight holes.

“I got my driver going today and, if you drive the ball
well here, you can give yourself chances at birdies like I did
today,” Fijian Singh said.

South African Rory Sabbatini, among the four pacesetters at
the start of the day, slipped back to three under after bogeys
on 16 and at the last gave him a 73.

Of the other big names, Ernie Els was at two under after
shooting a 71 and Spaniard Sergio Garcia at one under after a
69.

Garcia, who was edged out by Fijian Singh in a three-way
playoff for last year’s title, had been in danger of not
qualifying for the weekend after opening with a 74.

The halfway cut was projected to fall at two-over 146.

Of the players left stranded on the course when rain cut
short the second day, U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson was
three under after 11 holes, level with twice U.S. Open winner
Retief Goosen, after 14.

South African Trevor Immelman and American Bill Haas, the
other leaders overnight, were at four under and five under.
Immelman had completed 15 holes and Haas eight.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles)