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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, August 25, 2007

McLachlin cushions lead in Dye event

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Advertiser Staff and News Services

Honolulu's Parker McLachlin shot a 4-under-par 68 yesterday to take a three-shot lead after the second round of the Nationwide Tour's National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic in Bridgeport, W.Va.

McLachlin, a Punahou School and UCLA alum, is at 13-under 131. Edward Loar shot a 64 to move into second at 134. McLachlin led by two shots after the first round.

"I'm hitting the ball really solid and my iron play has been sharp," McLachlin said in a story on the PGA Tour Web site. "I didn't really have any long birdie putts today."

Playing in temperatures in the 90s, McLachlin started on the back nine and had three birdies and two bogeys to make the turn at 1-under. He added birdies at Nos. 3, 6 and 7 on the front nine.

"It was so hot out there," McLachlin said. "My caddie had to be taken off the course on No. 5 ... because he was cramping up so bad. There was just no air moving. But it is just another element you have to deal (with). The more you pay attention to it, the more it will affect you."

McLachlin, a 28-year-old PGA Tour rookie, is playing in the Nationwide event at Pete Dye Golf Club after missing out being one of the 144 players who qualified for the PGA's first-ever playoffs.

ELSEWHERE

The Barclays: On a course that has given him fits, K.J. Choi holed out from 94 yards for eagle-2 on the seventh hole and marched along to a 5-under 66, giving him a two-shot lead in The Barclays at Harrison, N.Y.

No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings, Choi is at 12-under 130 at the Westchester Country Club and two shots ahead of Rich Beam (68—132) going into the weekend at the first of four playoff events for the FedEx Cup.

In 10 previous rounds at this tournament, Choi had never shot better than 67 and had broken par only three times.

Boeing Classic: Ray Stewart, a former PGA Tour player who made the tournament field by claiming the last automatic spot in a Monday qualifier, made four birdies on his first nine, and finished with a 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the Champions Tour Boeing Classic at Snoqualmine, Wash.

Kenny Knox, Jerry Pate, Gil Morgan, Don Pooley and Massy Kuramoto were tied for second at 68.

Dutch Open: David Carter of England shot a second straight 5-under 65 to claim a two-shot lead after the second round of the Dutch Open at Zaandvoort, Netherlands.

Information from http://pgatour.com was used in this report.