Azinger Moves Into 5-Stroke Lead

Paul Azinger is halfway to shedding his bridesmaid role in Hawaii.

Azinger, who has finished second three times and in the top 10 on five other occasions when the Sony Open was known as the Hawaiian Open, shot a five-under-par 65 on Friday at Honolulu to reach the midway mark with a five-stroke lead.

Azinger’s 36-hole score of 12-under 128 kept him well clear of three players, two of whom are former Hawaiian Open champions.

John Huston won the last Hawaiian Open in 1998, shooting a PGA Tour-record 28-under-par score over the Waialae Country Club course.

Sharing second with Huston were 1996 Hawaiian Open winner Jim Furyk and Stuart Appleby, all with 67s that left them at seven-under 133.

At six-under 134 were defending champion Jeff Sluman, Jerry Kelly, Vijay Singh and Chris DiMarco.

Gary Nicklaus, making his PGA Tour debut on a sponsor’s exemption, shot a 70 to reach the midway mark at one-under 139.

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Karrie Webb overcame a nine on the fourth hole to shoot a three-over 75 for a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the wind-buffeted LPGA Office Depot tournament at West Palm Beach, Fla.

After a day facing north wind of 25 mph with gusts to 36, Webb, the leader by two strokes after the first round, was at four-under 140.

“It’s good to be finished.” Webb said. “It’s a little disappointing, but I didn’t do any real damage. Normally, I think I’m a pretty good wind player but there are always extremes.”

Fan favorite Nancy Lopez shot a one-over 73 to move into second place at 143.