Hanefeld sits atop leaderboard
ALDIE, Va. -- Past champion Kirk Hanefeld increased his lead to six strokes in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship, shooting a 5-under 67 on Friday at Creighton Farms for a tournament-record 11-under 133 total.
The 55-year-old Hanefeld, the 2008 winner from Acton, Mass., had seven birdies and two bogeys in the second round to break the 36-hole record of 134 set by Reed Hughes of Senatobia, Miss., in 2006. Hanefeld opened with a 6-under 66 on Thursday at River Creek Club.
"I feel pretty good all around with my game and where I stand," Hanefeld said. "Both rounds could have been better, but I won't complain. Everybody makes a few mistakes and after 36 holes I am happy."
Because of the wet conditions, preferred lies were used for the second straight day.
The final two rounds will be played on Creighton Farms' Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.
"It is harder over here at Creighton Farms," Hanefeld said. "They took it a little easy on us today, but I don't expect that over the weekend. This is a terrific golf course and very difficult. I am just going to play my game and play my best and see where I fit in at the end of Sunday."
Robert Linville of Greensboro, N.C., was second after a 67 at River Creek Club.
"This is a traditional layout, and really nice. Both days the weather was perfect, we didn't have any wind," said the 53-year-old Linville, the the PGA director of instruction of Precision Golf School in Greensboro. "The green complexes at Creighton Farms are very difficult. To get through there even par yesterday, I was happy about that. We finished at dark last night. I had a stretch in the middle of today's round where I just made a lot of birdies. I made all the putts when I hit it close."
The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the Senior PGA Championship in May at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich. The top five will receive exemptions into the final stage of the 2011 Champions Tour Q-school.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
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