Pampling Leads the Colonial

Rod Pampling shot a career-best seven-under-par 63 on Friday to take the second-round lead at the Colonial in Fort Worth.

Pampling was five for five in sand saves, including his last two holes, to get to 10-under 130 and a stroke ahead of first-round leader Stewart Cink (67), Stephen Ames (66) and PGA Tour rookie Charley Hoffman (66).

“Ball striking-wise, I don’t think it was one of my better rounds,” Pampling said. “But it was right up there in controlling myself and controlling my emotions. I didn’t get flustered.”

On his closing hole, the 408-yard ninth, Pampling hit his tee shot into a left fairway bunker and his approach over the green into more sand before blasting to six feet. At the par-three eighth, he hit a greenside bunker and saved par with an 11-foot putt.

Tim Herron (65), Peter Lonard (66) and Dean Wilson (65) were two strokes back at 132.

Fredrik Jacobson matched his career best with a 62, a bogey-free round that was the best of the day. He joined Jim Furyk (67), Arron Oberholser (68), Richard Johnson (65) and Henrik Bjornstad (64) at seven under.

Kenny Perry, the defending champion, was six strokes off the lead after five birdies and five bogeys in a round of 70. He had record 19-under totals in 2003 and 2005 to win by wide margins.

Two-time Colonial champion Ben Crenshaw, the 54-year-old who returned as part of the tournament’s 60th anniversary, made the cut with a 67 that got him to even par.

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Heavy rain in New Rochelle, N.Y., caused play to be postponed in the LPGA Tour’s Sybase Classic, leaving open the possibility the tournament will be cut to 54 holes.

Fifteen players have yet to finish the first round at Wykagyl Country Club. They were scheduled to complete it this morning, with the second round to follow.

Natalie Gulbis, Beth Bauer and Hee-Won Han shot three-under 68s on Thursday before rain and darkness forced the suspension of play.