Haas leads by 2 at Rock Barn
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Conover, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Jay Haas kicked in a short birdie effort on the final hole Saturday to close out a 4-under 67, which gave him a 2-stroke lead after the second round of the Greater Hickory Kia Classic at Rock Barn.
Haas, who won this title in 2005 and 2009, finished 36 holes at 12-under-par 130. He missed tying the tournament's 36-hole scoring record by one stroke.
David Frost fired a 6-under 65 to jump into a share of second place at minus-10. He was joined there by Kirk Triplett (66) and Joe Durant (69).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wayne Levi is alone in fifth place at 9-under-par 133 after a second-round 66. Bill Glasson (68) and Roger Chapman (69) are one stroke behind Levi at minus-8.
John Cook (68), Jeff Sluman (66), Paul Goydos (67) and Mike Goodes (69) are tied for eighth place at 7-under-par 135.
Haas and Durant shared the lead entering the day. Both players opened with birdies at the first. Durant gave that shot right back as he bogeyed the second.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Durant bounced back with a birdie on the third to regain a share of the lead. Haas rolled in a 15-footer for birdie on No. 4 to move to minus-10. He was alone in the lead the rest of the day.
Haas dropped his tee shot at the par-3 seventh inside five feet and he rolled that in for birdie. He ran off five consecutive pars from the eighth.
The 16-time Champions Tour winner played his third shot at the par-5 13th to five feet. After he converted that birdie effort, Haas parred the next three holes.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Haas missed a short par putt on the 17th and the 3-putt bogey trimmed his lead to one. He atoned for that mistake at the last as he dropped his third shot to the par-5 within two feet and he kicked that in for a closing birdie.
"I played well again today. I probably didn't make as many putts today and it was a little bit tougher with the wind," Haas said. "Pleased with how I played. I need to go out and be aggressive on Sunday. There are some low scores out there."
Frost had four birdies on the front nine to make the turn at minus-8. After he stumbled to a bogey on the par-3 12th, Frost birdied three of the next four holes to jump to 10-under. He parred the final two holes and was the first one done at minus-10.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Triplett, who won the SAS Championship last week, opened with back-to-back birdies from the first. He later birdied the fifth and ninth to get to 9- under. Triplett faltered to a bogey on the 10th, but came back with a birdie on No. 12. He closed with a birdie at the last to share second place.
"It was windy, but the greens are receptive. You've got to be aggressive and I was today," Triplett stated. "I've been struggling with my swing. I worked with my teacher at Pebble Beach and it has really helped. I feel at lot more confident over the ball now."
Durant bogeyed the sixth to slip to even-par for his round. Around the turn, he birdied the 10th, but stumbled to bogeys at 13 and 15. Durant ran off three consecutive birdies to close out his round and gain a share of second.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NOTES: Haas has a piece of the 36-hole lead for the 12th time on the Champions Tour and he won seven of the previous 11 times he was in this position ... Mark Calcavecchia withdrew after the second round ... Defending champion Michael Allen posted a 1-under 70, which left him tied for 17th place at 5- under 137.