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Romero stays sharp to lead by two shots

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From the Associated Press

Eduardo Romero took the sting out of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., for the second day in a row, taking a two-stroke lead at the Senior PGA Championship.

Romero, the first-round leader after a four-under-par 68 in strong wind, shot a two-under 70 in calmer conditions Friday to move to six-under 138.

Romero has dealt with few of the problems many others in the 50-and-over field have had over Pete Dye’s seaside layout. Maybe it was his caution and concern that kept him trouble free so far.

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“I told my caddie, ‘We have to be very careful because double bogey and triple bogey are waiting for us,’ ” Romero said.

Instead, he used some big, accurate drives -- he said his tee shot went about 380 yards on the par-five seventh -- to stay in the lead.

Joe Ozaki (71) was second at four under, with Nick Price next at three under after a 70.

Romero birdied two of his first three holes to extend his lead. When he slipped with bogeys on the back nine’s two difficult par threes, Nos. 14 and 17, he quickly regained his form.

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Tim Clark shot a bogey-free six-under 64 to take the second-round lead in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Fort Worth. Clark was one of 57 players -- half the 114-player field -- who had to finish their first rounds in the morning and then go right back out for 18 more holes because rain suspended play Thursday.

Clark’s 11-under 129 total was one shot off the 36-hole tournament record held by Kenny Perry, who opened with rounds of 65 and 63 on the way to winning his second title in 2005.

Ben Curtis (67), Jim Furyk (66) and Nathan Green (66) were in at nine-under 131, with Alex Cejka (65), Kevin Na (69) and first-round leader Anthony Kim (69) at eight under.

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Undeterred by a weather delay that created gusting wind midway through her round, Beth Bader shot a six-under 66 to take a one-shot lead over Young Kim (64) after two rounds of the Corning Classic at Corning, N.Y.

Bader finished at 13-under 131 to tie the 36-hole tournament record set three years ago by Michelle Estil. Paula Creamer (68) was third at 10 under, one shot ahead of Mi Hyun Kim (67) and Becky Morgan (66).

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Justin Rose birdied the last three holes for a two-under 70 and a share of the second-round lead with Angel Cabrera in the BMW PGA Championship at Virginia Water, England. They are at eight-under 136. Cabrera eagled the first hole and made four birdies in a bogey-free 66.

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