Gainey moves out to a 3-shot lead

Tommy Gainey said he was "going to light it up" against the fresh greens during the second round of the Wyndham on Friday. (HUNTER MARTIN / Getty Images)

Associated Press

Posted: August 20, 2011

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Tommy Gainey shot a 65 on Friday to move to 12-under 128 and take a 3-stroke lead after two rounds of the Wyndham Championship, the final event before the start of golf's postseason.

Gainey, who shared the first-round lead with Jeff Quinney, had six birdies and has the second-best 36-hole score in the history of the tournament.

Ernie Els (66), Webb Simpson (65), Stuart Appleby (67), and Daniel Summerhays (65) were at 131.

After recording five birdies and an eagle a day earlier, Gainey said he was "going to light it up" against the fresh greens he would face Friday morning. Starting on the back nine, the South Carolina native had his first bogey of the tournament on the par-4 No. 11. Then, he warmed up. He birdied four of his final nine holes and closed his round with consecutive birdies.

Champions Tour

HARRISON, N.Y. - Fred Couples shot a 5-under 66 to take a 1-stroke lead after the second round of the Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour's final major of the season.

Couples is at 8 under for the tournament and trying for his fifth Champions Tour victory. Peter Senior remains in second at 7 under after a second-round 69. Corey Pavin is third at 6 under after a second-round 69. Gary Hallberg, who tied with Senior in the first round, fell seven strokes behind with a 75.

European Tour

CELADNA, Czech Republic - Jose Manuel Lara shot a 4-under 68 to move into first at the Czech Open after rain cut short the second round.

LPGA Tour

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. - Na Yeon Choi would like to have the 18th hole at Pumpkin Ridge back.

Choi double-bogeyed the par-4 final hole, but her 6-under 65 held up for the first-round lead at the LPGA Safeway Classic.

Despite stumbling at the end, Choi birdied seven straight holes to set a personal record.

Grace Park, who has withdrawn or been cut in 38 of her last 67 tournaments, was 2 strokes back with a 67, while Se Ri Pak, Anna Nordqvist, M.J. Hur, and Ashli Bunch all shot 68s as golfers with later tee times struggled against afternoon breezes.