Rookie Snedeker stays in front at Torrey Pines
Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:15 PM EST
Printer Friendly (Page 1 of 2)





Top News
Canada to pay Arar $10.5 million for Syria ordeal

Canada aims to set emissions targets in early 2007

U.S. warns of bloody Taliban spring fightback

Mortars, killings shake Mogadishu

Bush accepts Republican House resolution on Iraq



MORE

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - PGA Tour rookie Brandt Snedeker stole the limelight from Tiger Woods for the second day in a row by retaining his lead at the Buick Invitational on Friday.

Two ahead overnight, the 26-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee fired a two-under-par 70 at a breezy Torrey Pines to forge three shots clear in the second round.

That left him on 13-under 131 after mixing four birdies with two bogeys on the South Course, the more difficult of the two layouts hosting the event.

World number one Woods, bidding for his seventh consecutive victory on the PGA Tour in his first tournament of the year, carded a 72 on the South Course to finish seven off the pace.

Charles Howell III was alone in second place after shooting a nine-birdie 64 on the North Course with fellow Americans Bill Haas (66) and Rich Beem (68) and South Korea's Charlie Wi (72) a further stroke back in a tie for third.

"I didn't drive it very well today at all but it was fun, I had a blast," Snedeker told reporters after missing 11 fairways out of 14.

"I hit some great iron shots out there and the crowd was unbelievable. I thought that's what it must feel like to be Tiger Woods.

BEST EXPERIENCE