VIRGINIA WATER, England - Order of merit leader David Howell took advantage of the calmer conditions late in the day to claim a three-stroke lead in the PGA Championship second round at Wentworth today.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell shot a second round one over par 73 to make the cut
and be in a tie for 47th, 12 shots off the lead.
After the blustery winds of the morning died down to make scoring easier for the late starters in the European Tour's flagship event, Howell powered to an eight-birdie 65 for an 11-under-par tally of 133.
The 30-year-old was three ahead of fellow Briton Nick Dougherty (69) and four clear of holder Angel Cabrera (69) of Argentina and Swede Robert Karlsson (68). Simon Khan of Britain was fifth on six-under 138.
Campbell said it had been a frustrating two days "and I am just pleased to have made the cut".
"My confidence has taken a bit of knock this week because I am just not holing the putts and it was nice to see that long one drop (for a birdie) at the last."
He was in a "positive" move heading to the weekend.
"My aim now is to go low, go low!"
Howell, who has not won since he outscored playing partner and world number one Tiger Woods in the final round to win the Champions Trophy in Shanghai in November, recovered in style from an early dropped shot at the third.
"That was one of the best rounds of golf I have played," he told reporters after finishing with three birdies in the last four holes.
"Things went my way and when I hit a poor shot I managed to extricate myself. I rode a crest of the wave until the end." Dougherty had a couple of setbacks on the front nine, bogeying the sixth and ninth before finding top gear with four birdies in the last seven holes.
"I dreamed I had won it last night and was very disappointed when I woke up," said the 24-year-old Dougherty.
"I won, it wasn't even a contest, I beat Luke (Donald). I think I shot 63 on the last day and he only shot 70." Asked if he often had that type of dream, Dougherty replied: "Oh yes, all the time. God knows, I've won so many (British) Opens."
World number 10 Donald, fellow Briton Paul Casey and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne were back on five-under 139.
Donald, one of four overnight leaders, took an early grip on the tournament when he used a seven-iron to record a hole-in-one at the 146-yard second.
No special prize was on offer for the ace and Donald eventually had to settle for a round of 72 after three bogeys on the front nine and a double bogey at the 15th.
Karlsson came agonisingly close to another hole-in-one.
The Swede finished two inches from the pin at the par-three 14th where the prize for an ace is a car worth $140,000.
Briton Darren Clarke headed straight for hospital to visit his sick wife Heather after returning a 74 for 147, a score likely to miss the projected cut of two-over-par.
Clarke withdrew after two rounds in this event last year to be with his wife who is battling cancer.
World number nine Adam Scott (150) and former European number one Lee Westwood (149) led the casualties of the cut.
- NZPA
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Order of merit leader David Howell took advantage of the calmer conditions late in the day to claim a three-stroke lead in the PGA Championship second round at Wentworth today.
New Zealand's Michael Campbell shot a second round one over par 73 to make the cut
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