Sluman, Byrd Share Lead in Florida

Jeff Sluman and Jonathan Byrd are tied for the lead at the Chrysler Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Sluman was eight shots worse than his course-record 62 in the opening round, missing a half-dozen good looks at birdie but still playing solidly from tee to green for a one-under-par 70. Byrd shot his second consecutive 66.

“Some days it’s easy, and some days it’s a little more difficult,” said Sluman, who never had the lead to himself in the second round and wound up tied with Byrd at 10-under 132.

In the final full-field tournament of the year, perhaps it was no surprise that the top five players already have their cards locked up for 2005, with no worries about where they are on the money list.

Vijay Singh, moving closer to a $10-million year, had a 69 and was only two shots behind. Also at eight-under 134 were Rod Pampling (65) and Tommy Armour III (64).

“You certainly shouldn’t be surprised to see Vijay up there,” Sluman said of the No. 1 player in golf who is going for his sixth victory in his last eight starts.

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Carin Koch and Grace Park shot six-under 66s, sharing the lead after the first round of the LPGA’s CJ Nine Bridges Classic at Jeju, South Korea.

Koch started her round with four birdies. Park bogeyed the 13th but birdied the 16th and 18th to tie for the lead. Trailing behind Koch and Park were Jill McGill and Karen Stupples, who shot five-under 67s.

The most spectacular shot of the day was made by Lorena Ochoa, who had a hole in one in the par-three 13th. She shot a four-under 68. Annika Sorenstam made four birdies and three bogeys to finish at one-under 71.

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Justin Bolli shot an eight-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Franklin Langham after the second round of the Nationwide Tour Championship at Prattville, Ala. He is at 13-under 131. Langham, who shot a 65, is one shot ahead of Nick Watney, who shot 64.