SportsApril 15, 2006

Jim Furyk added his own touch to Harbour Town's famous 18th hole Friday, rolling in a 56-foot birdie putt for a two-shot lead in the Verizon Heritage hours after Aaron Baddeley's unlikely eagle there. Putting from the back fringe, Furyk had simply hoped for a good lag and an easy par on the final hole. ...

Jim Furyk added his own touch to Harbour Town's famous 18th hole Friday, rolling in a 56-foot birdie putt for a two-shot lead in the Verizon Heritage hours after Aaron Baddeley's unlikely eagle there.

Putting from the back fringe, Furyk had simply hoped for a good lag and an easy par on the final hole. Instead, he watched his ball strike the flagstick and fall in. His 4-under 67 left him at 11 under, two strokes in front of Baddeley (67), Brian Gay (67), Duffy Waldorf (68) and first-round leader Vaughn Taylor (70).

Furyk's long birdie also added to the Friday fireworks near the lighthouse hole at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Baddeley capped a late charge -- he had three birdies and the eagle in his final five holes -- at the magnificent seaside hole featuring Sea Pines' red-and-white striped lighthouse as a backdrop.

Baddeley struck a smooth 8-iron about 160 yards that hit the green and bounced into the cup.

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LPGA Tour

Lorena Ochoa shot a 4-under 68 in windy conditions to take a two-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome in the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas.

After an opening 63 in ideal conditions the previous day, Ochoa didn't tee off until noon and had to contend with afternoon gusts that whipped the flags on the greens around. She was at 13-under 131 through two days of the 54-hole tournament.

Lincicome completed most of her round of 65 before the wind kicked up. So did Paula Creamer and Seon Hwa Lee, both three strokes back at 10 under. Creamer shot a 64, and Lee had a 67. Shi Hyun Ahn (70) was four shots off Ochoa's pace.

Dalhousie touring professional Karen Stupples failed to qualify for weekend play after rounds of 72 and 78 left her at 6-over par.

-- The Associated Press

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