Ft. Worth, TX (Best E Casino) - Phil Mickelson carded a two-under 68 Friday to grab a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Mickelson, the 2000 winner, completed 36 holes at seven-under-par 133. This is the second time this year Mickelson has held the 36-hole lead and the 27th time in his career. He has won two straight and four of his last five when owning at least a piece of the 36-hole lead.
First-round leader Johnson Wagner managed a one-over 71 to fall into a share of second place at six-under-par 134. He was joined there by Brian Gay (65) and Matt Kuchar (64).
Brian Bateman fired a five-under 65 and is tied for fifth with five other players at minus-five. Bateman stands alongside Stephen Ames (67), Steve Lowery (67), Kevin Sutherland (68), Brian Bateman (65) and Vaughn Taylor (68).
Mickelson opened with his first of two par streaks from the 10th at Colonial Country Club. He parred the first four holes to start his round.
After dropping a shot at the par-four 14th, Mickelson bounced back with a birdie on 15. He gave that shot right back as he dropped another stroke at the 16th.
Mickelson turned in even-par for his round as he birdied the par-four 18th. He dropped in back-to-back birdie putts from the first to move into the lead at minus-seven.
The left-hander parred the final seven holes to grab the 36-hole lead for the first time since the Northern Trust Open, where he went on to win by two.
"The best putting round I had all year," Mickelson stated. "Those par putts on three, four and five kept the round going. The putts that I missed I started them on line, and they were rolling and caught some of the lips, so I felt it was as good as putting round I had all year. It felt great."
Wagner, who started on the 10th tee, moved to eight-under with a birdie at 11. He gave that stroke back as he faltered to a bogey on the par-three 13th.
The first-round leader stumbled to a double-bogey at 15 to drop two shots behind Mickelson. After four straight pars around the turn, Wagner birdied the second to get back to minus-six. He parred out to remain there.
Kuchar also played the back nine first and got off to a flying start. After a birdie on the 10th, Kuchar rolled in an eight-footer for birdie on 11 to move to minus-two.
The 29-year old kept rolling with birdies on 12 and 13. Kuchar rolled in his fifth birdie putt at the par-four 17th.
Around the turn, Kuchar birdied the first to get to six-under. However, he gave that stroke back with a bogey on the third. Kuchar got back into a share of second thanks to a birdie on the par-three eighth.
"It's awfully fun to see the ball fall into the hole," admitted Kuchar. "I think any time you shoot a round like a six-under par, you've made some good putts. And to start the round out with four birdies, I made some sizeable putts there."
Gay ran off six straight pars to start the round. He dropped in consecutive birdies from the seventh and again from the 13th to jump to five-under. Gay's birdie at the last put him at six-under.
The cut line fell at two-over-par 142 with 79 players making the cut. Among those missing the weekend were Jason Gore (143), Scott Verplank (143), 2007 champion Rory Sabbatini (144) and Jim Furyk (145).
