Sauers and Jimenez tied after 2nd round

birmingham — Gene Sauers shot a 5-under 67 to move into a first-place tie with Miguel Angel Jimenez on Friday in the second round of the Regions Tradition, the first of five PGA Tour Champions majors, in Birmingham

Jimenez and Sauers were at 11-under 133. This was the first time either held or shared the lead after two rounds in a major.

Two-time defending champion Bernhard Langer was nine shots behind. He is trying to become the first to win three straight at the Tradition since it began in 1989.

Sauers completed his second straight bogey-free round. Jimenez had four birdies and a bogey for a 69 at Greystone Golf & Country Club, a day after matching the course record with a 64.

He had opened with a 66 and is seeking his second PGA Tour Champions victory. His first came at the 2016 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Sauers had four birdies on the first seven holes.

“Then I kind of just slowed up a little bit, kind of put the brakes on for some reason,” he said. “Just the putting, I’ve got to get more confident in my putting. If I can do that, I’ll be right there on Sunday.”

Jimenez tied the course record with a 64 on Thursday, calling it “amazing.” He was solid in the second round as well not quite satisfied.

“I still feel like I left a lot of shots on the golf course,” he said.

Jerry Kelly, Kevin Sutherland and Scott McCarron are two strokes back going into the weekend. Kelly shot 69, McCarron 68 and Sutherland 66. Sutherland and McCarron had eagles. Sutherland had a bogey-free round and eagled No. 8. —