Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Goosen moves ahead of Stricker, Jobe

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Retief Goosen shot an 8-under 62 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Bridgeston­e Senior Players Championsh­ip in Akron, Ohio, the fourth of the PGA Tour Champions’ five major tournament­s.

After returning in the morning to birdie the 18th for a 69 in the rain-delayed first round, Goosen made an 8foot eagle putt on the par-5 second hole in the second round and added six birdies in the bogey-free round at Firestone Country Club.

“I got it off to a nice flying start on my 18th hole at 7 this morning. I birdied 18 this morning, then went back to the hotel, had an hour and a half sleep again. Came back out and continued the great play after that.” The 50-year-old South African is winless in 11 starts in his first season on the senior tour, losing a playoff to Madison’s Jerry Kelly last month in the American Family Insurance Championsh­ip. Goosen won seven times on the PGA Tour, taking major titles at the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2004.

Playing partner Steve Stricker of Madison, the first-round leader after a 64 that he completed with a birdie in the morning, had a 70 to drop into a tie for

second with Brandt Jobe.

“Steve got off to great start yesterday and you feel like you’re falling way behind,” Goosen said. “I managed to finish OK this morning only being five behind and suddenly I went on a roll and his game went dead. So it’s funny how it works.”

Stricker is coming off a victory two weeks ago in the U.S. Senior Open at Norte Dame, and also won the major Regions Tradition in May.

“Never really got anything going at all,” Stricker said. “Drove it in the rough quite a few times, missed quite a few greens, and just when I did hit it on the green, it really wasn’t that close to have legitimate birdie putts at it. It’s just a good golf course. And if you’re a little off off the tee, you pay the price.”

Jay Haas (68), Kent Jones (67) and Tommy Tolles (67) were tied for fourth at 3 under.

Defending champion Vijay Singh was even par after his second 70. Bernhard Langer was tied for 50th at 8 over after rounds of 76 and 72. He won the event three straight times from 2014-16.

Kelly had a 72 and was well off the pace.

PGA Tour: Jhonattan Vegas shot a 9-under 62 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Vegas, the three-time PGA tour winner from Venezuela, had a 13-under 129 total at TPC Deere Run.

Andrew Landry was second after his second 65.

LPGA Tour: Sei Young Kim shot a 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee in the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.

Lee shot her second straight 66. The South Korean birdied two of the last three holes.

Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Jennifer Kupcho were 9 under. Kupcho shot 66, Thompson 67, and Lewis had a 68.

American Century Championsh­ip: Defending champion Tony Romo birdied six of his final 11 holes to take the first-round lead in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterbac­k turned CBS NFL analyst shot a 2-under 70 and scored 26 points in the celebrity tournament that uses the modified Stableford scoring system.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was two points back.

Green Bay Packers quarterbac­k Aaron Rodgers had a total of 8.

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