Calc Four Ahead in AT&T Championship


Mark Calcavecchia followed up his opening 5-under 67 with a 69 Saturday to forge a four-stroke lead through 36 holes of the AT&T Championship. The $1.85 million Champions Tour event began Friday at TPC San Antonio's Canyons Course in Texas.

The 52-year-old carded five birdies and two bogeys to reach 8-under 136, four shots ahead of Kenny Perry, who's posted two consecutive 70s.

Calcavecchia said a little luck was involved in his second-round score. "I got away with one," he told reporters. "I didn't play near as good as yesterday, for some reason. It was easier conditions than yesterday. I hit it a little bit crooked. To shoot 3-under, though, considering I didn't hit it as near as good as yesterday, was really good."

Sharing third at 141 are Brad Faxon and Esteban Toledo, who both had 67s. Another stroke back are Mark Wiebe (70), Willie Wood (72), David Frost (71), Bernhard Langer (68), Fred Funk (69) and Chip Beck (71).

The tournament is the last full-field event of the year on the over-50 circuit. After Sunday's final round, the top-30 players on the season's money list will move on to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. That 72-hole tournament begins next Thursday on the Cochise Course at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz.

AT&T defending champion Fred Couples isn't playing this week because of ongoing problems with his chronic bad back. Two-time winner John Cook withdrew after the first round - a 1-over 73 - as did John Huston (78) and John Jacobs (83).

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