Second straight 65 gives Bowden one-shot edge at halfway in Utah

SANDY, Utah -- Craig Bowden recorded his second consecutive 65 Friday to get to 11 under par and leads by a shot after the second round of the Utah Championship. John Kimbell is one back at 11 under and the quintet of Steve Wheatcroft, Dave Schultz, Alistair Presnell, Josh Teater and Garrett Willis is tied for third at 10 under par.

Bowden was in the first group of the day and took the early clubhouse lead. He attributes his performance so far to prowess on the greens.

"I'm putting the ball really well," he said. "I'm seeing and hitting my lines and have made some putts, which you sure have to do to be competitive. I've gotten some good breaks and created some for myself as well."

After hitting 12 of 12 fairways in the first round, Bowden hit only six in the second. He recorded a 4-under-par 32 on the back nine despite missing every fairway opportunity but one.

"I didn't drive it as straight today and hit some first cuts [of rough]. But I was able to capitalize when I got good lies and convert a few times for birdies," he remarked. "I've kind of got it on auto-pilot right now -- just letting it roll and not worrying too much."

Bowden and Kimbell are the only players in the field yet to make a bogey after 36 holes.

"I haven't made any bogeys up to this point and if I can continue that trend I think it'll be alright by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around," he continued. "My goal is to get to about 20 under and see if that holds up. If I continue doing what I'm doing, I think I'll have a decent shot at it."

Bowden, 41, is a Nationwide Tour veteran making his eighth appearance at the Utah Championship. He finished tied for second here in 1999 and has three career Tour wins.

Willis made charge in the afternoon wave, firing a 7-under-par 71. He was 8 under through 13 holes and within one shot of Bowden before bogeying No. 8 (his 17th of the day).

First-round leader Presnell had a rollercoaster round that included six birdies, two bogeys and a double en route to a 2-under-par 69. Schultz turned in the low round of the day with a course record-tying 63. His round included an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.

The field was cut to 61 players at 3 under par or better. The third round begins at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning with twosomes going off the first tee. The final group of Bowden and Kimbell tees off at 1:30 p.m.

Notebook: American flags were used on the pins Friday in remembrance of Sept. 11th. ... Fran Quinn holed out for eagle on the par-4 14th with a gap wedge from 110 yards. In the same group, Bob Burns was next to play and hit his approach to a foot and subsequently converted for birdie. Josh Broadaway then hit his second, which found the left greenside rough -- from which he proceeded to chip in for birdie.

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