Verplank takes charge

A second consecutive round of 66 gave Scott Verplank a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Florida.

A second consecutive round of 66 gave Scott Verplank a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Florida. American Verplank struck on the front nine of his round at Lake Buena Vista at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, hitting six birdies in his first nine holes. It was par golf after the turn for Verplank as a second six-under-par round of 66 put him on 12-under-par for the tournament, and a one-shot lead heading into the weekend. Looking for a sixth PGA Tour title in the final even of the season, Verplank is a shot ahead of a group of three men on 11-under with Tad Ridings, Ryan Armour and Canadian Stephen Ames. Ridings matched Verplank's round of 66 after an opening 67, while Armour had a fine round with an eagle and seven birdies in an eight-under round of 64. Ames hit the round of the day though as he powered up the leaderboard after a superb nine-under round of 63. Ames started on the tenth, and he started a run of seven consecutive birdies from the first hole onwards in his flying round, which could have been even better but for a three-putt bogey at the ninth where he missed a three-footer to save par. "It was more the putter than anything else that was working for me today," said the 43-year-old. "I was trying to make nine birdies in a row and (hole) seven was a good up-and-down for birdie. "Then I hit a four-iron to about 20 feet (at the eighth) and I thought I'd make that one too. But I didn't, I left it short." Overnight leader J.P. Hayes lost his one-stroke lead after carding a three-under round of 69, to put him on 10-under for the tournament. Hayes is in a group of eight players tied for fifth place and just two shots behind leader Verplank going into the final two rounds. Hayes let his lead slip away on the ninth hole when he had to take a penalty drop off the tee an ended up with a double-bogey on what was his final hole. Among those level with Hayes were fellow Americans Justin Leonard (67), big-hitting Brett Wetterich (65), Sean O'Hair (66) and Vaughn Taylor (67).