Jay Haas used a hot putter to shoot a bogey-free 8-under-par 63 and take a five-stroke lead over Fred Funk heading to the final round of the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach Country Club.
Haas, who was tied for the lead after an opening 64, made four birdies on each nine and has a 36-hole total of 15-under 127 without a blemish on his scorecard through two rounds.
“I’ve been working on pacing up my (putting) stroke the last few weeks,” said Haas, who won the Toshiba in 2007. “I’m taking a short backstroke and being aggressive through the ball. I trying to be quicker and I’m making more putts.
” … There’s still a long ways to go and I have to maintain what I’m doing. I have to stay aggressive and go for it because I know some of these guys are capable of shooting 62, 63, 64 tomorrow.”
Funk holed out from the fairway for an eagle on the 15th hole and is alone in second after a 65 that included a single bogey on the second hole.
Grant Waite of New Zealand posted a bogey-free 65 and is six shots back in a tie for third with Ian Woosnam of Wales, who holed out for a double eagle-2 on the 15th hole, Doug Garwood, Billy Andrade, Bart Bryant and John Daly, who all finished with 66s.
Kevin Sutherland of Sacramento and Fresno State carded a 66 and is another stroke back in a tie for ninth with David Frost (65) of South Africa, Rod Spittle (64) of Canada, Joey Sindelar (67) and Larry Mize (69).
