GOLF ROUNDUP

Fritsch takes lead by shot

— Brad Fritsch shot a 7-under-par 64 and moved into the lead at the halfway point of the Web.com Tour’s Mylan Classic.

Fritsch is at 12-under 130 for his first two trips around the Southpointe Golf Club, one shot better than veteran Cliff Kresge (65).

Casey Wittenberg, a two time winner this year and No. 2 on the 2012 money list, was steady in a 4-under 67 in the afternoon to reach 10-under 132 and is alone in third.

First-round co-leaders Edward Loar and Robert Streb each had 69s and are three off the pace. Nicholas Thompson (67), Peter Lonard (65) and Matt Weibring (63) share sixth place, four back.

Fritsch, No. 43 on the money list, has been making steady progress in the past two months, making his sixth consecutive cut.

“I’ve been hitting it really good but the last couple weeks’ performances have been limited by my putter,” he said. “For the majority of those tournaments I’ve hit the ball as good as I can. It’s just whether the putter cooperates.”

Things changed for the better last week in Knoxville, Tenn., at the News Sentinel Open where Fritsch and his coach, Patrick Kelley, made some adjustments.

“My stroke was getting real jabby and my speed control was really bad,” said Fritsch, who ranks 117th out of 140 players in putts per round this year. “I feel like I’m lengthening my stroke but it’s probably not, it’s just slower. It feels like it takes a long time to hit the ball, but I’ve watched it on video and it looks normal. I was just in a bad place and getting fast.”

Things have slowed down for Fritsch, who is reading the greens better, seeing his lines and making putt after putt as his confidence grows.

“Just the way the ball comes off the putter,” he said of the nearly instant improvements. “You can only hit your line with the right speed, right? If you read it wrong, fine. On a scale of one to 100 my confidence is about 80 or 85 now.”

The result has put Fritsch into the lead for only the second time in his four years on tour. The other time also came in the Keystone State when he shared the 36-hole lead at the 2006 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic in Scranton.

David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 72 and is 5-under 137. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) is 4-under 138 after shooting a 68.

Clark Dennis (Razorbacks) missed the cut after shooting a 72. He finished 1-over 143.

PGA EUROPEAN

Quesne in front

CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, Switzerland - France’s Julien Quesne shot a 6-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead in a suspended second round of the European Masters.

Fog delayed the start, and poor visibility ended play with two groups on the course.

Quesne finished with four consecutive birdies to top the leaderboard at 9 under. England’s Danny Willett was second after a 67. Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, the winner last week at Gleneagles, was 7 under after a 66.

Greg Norman missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 73.

Sports, Pages 32 on 09/01/2012

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