Steady Nelson leads Hall by one
Associated Press
Saturday, May 13
ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Larry Nelson shot a 5-under-par 67 to
take a one-shot lead Saturday over Walter Hall and Mark Hayes after
the second round of the Nationwide Championship.
Battling blustery winds and 90-degree heat, Nelson missed only two greens to move to 8 under for the tournament. The Marietta, Ga., resident is seeking his second victory this year and sixth of his career on the Senior PGA Tour.
Hall used a 7-iron for a hole-in-one at the Golf Club of Georgia's 13th hole en route to carding a 64, the day's low round.
Hall's bogey-free round included six birdies. The former appliance salesman, who lost a four-way playoff to Lanny Wadkins at the ACE Group Classic in February, is aiming for his first victory.
Hayes entered the second round with a one-shot lead and shot an
even-par 72 by closing with two straight birdies.
A bad drive at the par-4 16th hole landed in the left rough and led to a bogey, but Hayes recovered by rolling in a 20-foot putt at the par-3 17th hole and making a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th.
Nelson, the tour's No. 2 money winner with earnings of $729,100,
had birdies on 16 and 17. He hit a 9-iron within 6 feet on the 16th
hole and a 4-iron within 8 feet on the 17th.
Hubert Green and defending champion Hale Irwin are both two
strokes back. A double bogey at No. 12 kept Green, who began the
day at 4 under, from gaining more ground. Irwin's round was
highlighted by a 30-foot putt for birdie at No. 15 and a 25-foot
par saver at No. 17.
Irwin won the Nationwide last year with an eagle from 74 feet
out on the final hole. It marked the first of five straight
victories for Irwin, who won 25 senior events in his first five
years but has yet to win this year.
Gil Morgan, Bruce Summerhays, Tom Jenkins and Vicente Fernandez
are all five strokes back.
Divots
The threesome of Nelson, Hall and Hayes will tee off at
2:25 p.m. ET Sunday.
Nelson's 80-year-old mother, Ruddell Nelson, walked all 18 holes.
Tom Watson, seeking his first senior victory, is four strokes back after a 71. Tom Kite is also four strokes back. His 66 put him in a tie with Rocky Thompson and John Bland.
Money leader Bruce Fleisher is playing in Ireland this weekend.
