Change of pace: Pate in the chase
Jerry Pate put together one of his best competitive rounds since the early 1980s -- a 4-under-par 68 that gave him a two-day total of 6-under 138 and a one-shot lead at the Senior PGA Championship at Ligonier, Pa.
Pate's round included a 4-iron he hit fat and sliced en route to a bogey on the par-5 18th, but he broke from a crowded pack on a day when a dozen shared or owned the lead at some point.
''It's been 20 years," the 51-year-old Pate said, referring to the last time he was in contention in a PGA tournament. ''That's a long time."
Pate followed up a 2-under 70 Thursday to lead R.W. Eaks (70) by one shot and Mark McNulty (66) and Mike Reid (70) by two shots. Hajime Meshiai, a 12-time Japanese Tour winner who has never been in contention in an American tournament, had a second-round 71 and is joined by Dave Barr (72) and Tom McKnight (72) at three off the lead.
Hale Irwin, the defending champion who started on No. 10, was around the lead all day until getting two bogeys and a double bogey within a five-hole span from Nos. 4-8.
Arnold Palmer, 75, who likely played his last competitive round in his native western Pennsylvania, missed the cut after rounds of 82-86.
LPGA -- Annika Sorenstam shot a 4-under 68 to tie Sherri Turner for the second-round lead at the LPGA
Sorenstam, seeking her fifth win in six starts this year, jumped to the top of the leaderboard after a four-hour delay caused by lightning and rain.
Turner shot a 1-under 71 for a two-round total of 7-under 137.
PGA -- Justin Leonard took advantage of firm fairways at the TPC at Southwind for some extra length off the tee and shot a 5-under 65, extending his lead to five strokes after the second round of the St. Jude Classic at Memphis.
He had six birdies and his first bogey for a 13-under 127 total that was one stroke off the 36-hole course record held by John Cook (1996) and David Frost (1999). Both did it when par was a stroke higher.
Fredric Jacobson shot 65 and was at 8-under 132. He had a piece of the lead until Leonard birdied his seventh hole and took it back.
European -- Peter Hedblom birdied seven of the last 11 holes for a 7-under 65 and a three-shot lead in the BMW Championship at Virginia Water, England.
