ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — David Toms shot a 4-under- par 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Joe Durant in the McGladrey Classic, the second of the PGA Tour’s five Fall Series events.
Toms, coming off a first- round 64, had a 10-under 130 total on the Sea Island Club’s Seaside Course, hitting 16-of-18 greens in regulation in the second round. He has won eight of his 12 PGA Tour titles from the mid-summer to the fall, and nine in southern venues.
“Here we are again, in the South and on Bermuda grass, and it’s going pretty well,” said Toms, 43.
Durant followed his opening 65 with a 66 in perfect conditions. Heath Slocum (66) and Rich Barcelo (67) were 8-under, and Brian Gay (65) and Mathias Gronberg (67) followed at 7-under.
“David is one of my great friends out here, and he’s certainly playing well,” said Durant, looking forward to a third-round pairing with Toms. “It helps your game when the other guy is swinging the club well.”
Toms has won tournaments in his home state of Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
“Maybe it’s the warm weather . . . growing up in the South, when it was cold I probably went hunting or something else. I didn’t play a whole lot of golf in bad weather,” Toms said.
Cochran sets course record
POTOMAC, Md. — Buoyed by birdies on the first five holes, Russ Cochran shot a course- record 6-under 64 to take a one-shot lead at the Senior Players Championship.
Cochran has won two of the last three Champions Tour events and is shooting for his first major victory at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
Michael Allen remains in second place at 5-under 135 after a second-round 67, and Mark O’Meara shot another 68 to stand alone at 4-under. First-round leader Tom Kite followed his first-round 67 with an even-par 70, leaving him in a tie with Jeff Sluman.
Fred Couples withdrew from the tournament because of a back ailment.
Miyazato fires 63
PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Mika Miyazato shot a 9-under 63 for a share of the second- round lead in the Navistar LPGA Classic with Na Yeon Choi (64) and Cristie Kerr (67).
Parry takes command
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — John Parry shot a 7-under 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to take a four-shot lead over Martin Erlandsson (68—136) in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
