Eleven straight pars, two birdies lift Branshaw into lead
MADISON, Miss. -- David Branshaw can sum up his year in one word before hiring caddie Steve DuPlantis -- horrible.
Viking Classic Leaderboard
1. Branshaw (-10)
T-2. Beckman (-9)
T-2. Haas (-9)
4. Hayes (-8)
T-5. Delsing (-7)
T-5. Overton (-7)
T-5. Weekley (-7)
T-5. Hoffman (-7)
T-5. Senden (-7)
T-5. Flanagan (-7)
• Complete scores
But since the Tampa, Fla., acquaintances teamed up, Branshaw has been playing some of the best golf of his PGA Tour career and holds a one-stroke lead in the Viking Classic after the second round was suspended by darkness Friday.
"I've got a real good caddie this week, a real good caddie," Branshaw said after his 4-under 68 put him into the lead at 10-under.
Bill Haas and 2001 champion Cameron Beckman were a stroke back and J.P. Hayes was alone in fourth at 8-under. Eighteen golfers were within four strokes of the lead and eight others were another stroke back when play was called at 7:15 p.m.
Six golfers were left on the course and second-round play at Annandale Golf Club will begin at 7:45 a.m. Saturday.
Branshaw made 11 straight pars in a swirling wind and then birdied his final two holes to pass Haas and Beckman.
In his third year on the PGA Tour at age 37, Branshaw is 190th on the money list, well off the mark of No. 125 or better needed to play next season.
Entering a monthlong break during the FedEx Cup last month, he'd made just six cuts in 23 appearances. He worked on his game during that time and hooked up with DuPlantis, who helped him tie for 13th at the Turning Stone Resort Championship last week.
"I've still got a little way to go till I'm comfortable with my game, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was five weeks ago," Branshaw said. "I got a bad lesson back in March. It was horrible.
"I was all ears as far as swing tips go and this teacher came along and really messed it up bad. Lost a lot of balls," he said.
DuPlantis, an accomplished caddie with a colorful past chronicled in the book "Bud, Sweat and Tears," was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant in 2006 between rounds at the Chrysler Championship in Florida.
He has caddied for Jim Furyk, Rich Beem and Daniel Chopra and called Branshaw a few weeks ago to let him know he'd be available over the final seven weeks of the season.
So far, Branshaw said they've been so tight, they've only had two or three shots off the mark.
"[He] tunes me in real good on my shots," Branshaw said. "Really good advice. He's just good."
Branshaw had planned to return to Q-school this year. But with DuPlantis carrying his bag, he's optimistic he can turn around his nightmare season.
"I've got a good opportunity these next six weeks to make some money," he said.
The group chasing Branshaw and DuPlantis also needs to make money to play next season. Haas moved from 126th to 114th with a 10th-place finish at Turning Stone last week and could improve his standing with a strong finish in the Classic.
Haas made eight birdies in 26 holes Friday after completing his darkness-suspended first round and feels his game swinging into gear as he tries to improve on his 99th-place finish last season.
"I think this game's a game of momentum," Haas said. "Top 10 for me, I haven't had many of those in my career, so top 10 for me is positive and it seems to be carrying over so far."
Beckman hopes a win at Annandale will mark his return to the tour after several years wondering if he wanted to play any more. He earned his way back onto the tour at Q-school last year and is 147th on the money winner's list this week.
"I was kind of lost and didn't feel like playing anymore," he said. "I got to the point where I was tired of playing and tired of traveling and stuff like that."
After setting an opening-round record with a 63, first-day leader Briny Baird fell to 3-under with a 6-over 78.
The cut was projected at even par when play stopped, but Saturday morning's finishers could change that. Play fell behind in the tournament after lightning forced a delay of nearly three hours Thursday.
The day's best round belonged to Jay Delsing and Johnson Wagner, who both shot 7-under 65 to move into contention at 7- and 6-under, respectively.
Delsing has played in just eight tournaments this year and is 204th on the money list. He planned to use the Viking Classic as a chance to warm up for Q-school. But Friday's round gave him hope he can slip into the top 25.
"I'd absolutely love to," Delsing said.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
