Funk four strokes clear at U.S. Senior Open

Golf Betting Lines

08/01/2008 - Colorado Springs, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fred Funk posted a one-under 69 Friday, but it was enough to extend his lead after two rounds of the U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Funk, who is still looking for his first major championship title on any tour, completed 36 holes at six-under-par 134, which is one shot off the 36-hole scoring record for this championship.

Eduardo Romero, the 2006 JELD-WEN Tradition winner, carded a one-under 69 Friday to move into second place at four-under-par 136.

John Cook (72), Tom Kite (71) and Mark McNulty (70) are tied for third at minus-two and are the last players in red figures.

One day after the East Course at The Broadmoor Resort allowed some decent scores in the opening round, things were completely different in the second round.

Only five players broke par Friday after 14 players did so in the opening round. Funk had the lowest round Thursday with his 65, while Ian Woosnam's two-under 68 was the low round Friday.

"I think the pin placements are a lot more difficult," said Funk. "The greens are getting a little more speed to them. And it's just hard to hit on the proper side of the hole; you're on defense. Very tricky, very demanding."

Funk started on the back nine Friday and quickly went the wrong direction. He found the rough off the tee at the par-four 11th and that led to his first bogey of the day.

The 52-year-old saw his tee shot roll off the back of the green at the par- three 14th and he could not get up and down for par dropping him to minus- three of the championship.

Funk found the rough again off the tee at the 17th and that set up his third bogey in the first eight holes. He rebounded with a four-foot birdie putt at the 18th to make the turn at minus-four.

The 2005 Players Championship winner kept rolling with a 20-foot birdie putt on the second. Funk made it two in a row as he two-putted for birdie on the par-five third to get back to minus-five.

Funk, who is playing on the Champions Tour for the first time since May, birdied each of those holes for the second straight days.

He then reeled off five straight pars from the third. At the par-five ninth, his last, Funk again two-putted for birdie to finish at minus-six.

"I got three-over after eight holes, and really wasn't that frustrated because I felt like I was still playing pretty good and thought I could make some birdies," Funk admitted. "I was hoping to get back to even-par for the day, and I ended up getting to one-under for the day. So I was really pleased overall."

Romero carded a single birdie to go with one bogey on the opening nine. On the back nine, he bogeyed the par-three 12th for the second straight day.

The Argentine recovered that lost stroke with a birdie on the par-four 15th. Romero birdied the par-four 17th for the second day in a row to move within two of Funk's lead.

"The course is very tough in the afternoon, especially the afternoon," Romero said. "The greens are unplayable today, especially No. 9. It's a typical U.S. Open, you know. It's very good, very competitive, very challenging golf course. I played really good, especially the back nine."

D.A. Weibring carded one of the four 69s on Friday to move to even-par 140 after two rounds. He was joined in sixth place by Juan Quiros (73), John Morse (71), Andy Bean (71) and Morris Hatalsky (73).

Defending champion Brad Bryant is alone in 11th at plus-one after a one-over 71 in the second round. Woosnam is tied for 12th at two-over-par 142 with Greg Norman (72), Jay Haas (70), Bernhard Langer (70) and three others.

The cut line fell at eight-over-par 148 with 62 players moving on to the weekend.

Among those who missed the cut were two-time major champion Mark O'Meara (149), two-time Masters winner Ben Crenshaw (151), 1988 and 1989 U.S. Open champ Curtis Strange (151), Craig Stadler (153), 2004 U.S. Senior Open winner Peter Jacobsen (154) and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Allen Doyle (160).