Rod SpittleAndy King
Rod Spittle shot a 72 Friday to sit at even par through two rounds of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in San Francisco.
The Niagara Falls, Ont., golfer had three bogeys over his first six holes before settling down with three birdies and a bogey the rest of the way to sit just four shots off the lead, shared by three golfers.
Michael Allen shot a 2-under 69 to sit tied atop the leaderboard with Fred Couples and David Frost. Second in the event last year, Allen saved par on the final hole after hitting his approach shot between the grandstands surrounding the green. He was given a free drop, chipped to 8 feet and made the putt.
Couples, who was tied for the first-round lead with Jay Haas, rallied for a 70 after a double bogey on the opening hole. The two-time winner on tour this year three-putted the par-4 first, then made eight consecutive pars before three birdies on the back nine gave him a share of the lead.
"I wasn't in a great mood. I didn't really play that great the front. But I did hit a couple good shots," said Couples, who is trying to become the first back-to-back winner on the tour this year. "Someone asked me what I have to do [Saturday] I have to drive it much better and make a few putts to keep shooting under par."
Frost, winless on the tour this season, had a 69 to match Couples and Allen at 4 under at TPC Harding Park.
"The wind didn't really blow as hard. It wasn't as miserable as yesterday. It was quite consistent, chilly out there," said Frost. "It's hard shaping the ball when it's so cold. You just got to try and drive it and keep it in play."
Mark Calcavecchia, Jay Don Blake, Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry were a stroke back, tied for fourth. Calcavecchia, Blake and Langer had 68s, and Perry shot a 69. Haas was 2 under after a 72.
Charles Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman had a 72 to fall four strokes behind the leaders. He still remains in first place for the $1 million payout despite his 11th place standing.
Calcavecchia had an erratic day. He holed out for an eagle on the par-4 seventh and had four birdies, but also had three bogeys. He needs to move up at least two more spots on the leaderboard to have a chance at passing Lehman for the season points title. Calcavecchia can win the Cup if he wins the event and Lehman finishes T2 or worse. He can also win by finishing second if Lehman finishes T12 or worse.
Conditions were considerably better for Round 2, with no rain and calmer winds.
Files from the Associated Press were used in this report