With a 63, Rose Is in No-Driver Seat

Justin Rose kept his driver in the bag for most of his round Friday, and it turned out to be a wise choice.

The 25-year-old Englishman shot a seven-under-par 63 to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Buick Championship at Cromwell, Conn.

Bogey-free through 36 holes, Rose played himself into contention for his first PGA Tour victory, moving to 12-under 128.

Former British Open champion and first-round co-leader Ben Curtis (68) and Kevin Sutherland (67) are tied for second at eight under. Dean Wilson (66) and Chris Smith (67) are five strokes off the lead.

Rose teed off in the afternoon, just as the fairways were firming up on the 6,820-yard TPC at River Highlands. He opted for his three-wood and five-wood off the tee on the back nine.

“It got pretty hot, so the ball was going a long way,” Rose said. “I managed to pull back, leave the driver in the bag and put it in play.”

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Gil Morgan used an eagle, six birdies and an adventurous par on the last hole to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Tradition at Aloha, Ore.

Morgan finished with an eight-under 64 for a two-round total of 11-under 133 in the final major of the year on the Champions Tour.

Tom Jenkins was two shots back at nine-under 135 after a 69. Mark McNulty had a 65 and was tied at eight under with Loren Roberts (69).

Morgan had plenty of memorable shots in his round, but it was his effort on the final hole that provided the most excitement.

His drive sailed right into bark chips at the par-five 18th. He then hit into the trees trying to get out to the fairway, and clipped a tree with a shot that fell into a greenside bunker. He blasted out of the sand, landing some 3 1/2 feet from the hole, and made the par putt.

“I looked like Robin Hood going through the 18,” he said, calling the hole “an adventure in itself.”

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Soo-Yun Kang overcame a triple bogey to shoot her second consecutive six-under 66 and forge a tie for the lead with defending champion Catriona Matthew at the Wendy’s Championship for Children in Dublin, Ohio.

The cut of three-under 141 matched the lowest in LPGA history. Fourteen players broke par through 36 holes but won’t play on the weekend.

“Every day you’re going to see people shooting low scores,” Matthew said. “If I can keep shooting five or six under, it’s going to be tougher for them to try and catch me.”

Kang and Matthew, who also put up a second 66, were at 132, a shot ahead of Karrie Webb, who had a 66.

Annika Sorenstam was four strokes back after a 67.

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Austin Eaton III won three of his last four holes and beat U.S. Walker Cup team member Anthony Kim, 4 and 2, to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur at Ardmore, Pa.

In other quarterfinals, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari advanced with a 6-and-4 win over South Africa’s Dawie Van Der Walt; J.C. Deacon defeated Mark Leon, 2 and 1, in an all-Canadian match; and Dillon Dougherty beat Kent State senior Ryan Yip, 4 and 2.