Stricker in front at Barclays

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:48 AM PARAMUS, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Steve Stricker owns a three-shot lead entering the third round of The Barclays on Saturday.

The defending champion, Stricker put himself in position to secure another title after firing a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 on Friday.

His second round included five birdies and an eagle at the par-5 third hole, where he holed a shot from 67 yards

Stricker is 10-under 132 through 36 holes and holds a three-shot cushion over first-round leader Hunter Mahan.

Stricker, who has not won since the triumph in this event last year, started the day six shots behind fellow American Mahan, who signed for a 2-over 73 to drop to 7-under for the tournament.

Mahan got off to a fast start in the opening event of this year's FedEx Cup playoffs, firing a 62 on Thursday. However, he failed to build on his dominant position as conditions toughened in the afternoon and bogeyed three of his first eight holes and five overall Friday.

Angel Cabrera (67), Kenny Perry (67) and Dudley Hart (69) are tied for third place at 6-under. Perry got off to a blazing start with four birdies on the front nine, but bogeys at Nos. 12 and 13 stalled his momentum.

Sergio Garcia closed with consecutive birdies to finish off a 67, moving the silky, smooth Spaniard to 5-under 137 overall. He is joined at that number by Americans Anthony Kim (67) and Paul Streelman (70) and England's Paul Casey (71).

Kim, a two-time winner in just his second year on the PGA Tour and an automatic qualifier for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, had been stung by a bee and suffered an adverse reaction to medication during his opening round of 70. On Friday, Kim provided the bite with five birdies, his only blemish coming at the par-3 eighth, his 17th of the day.

Casey, who started at the 10th tee, was disappointed to finish bogey-bogey, leaving him back where he started the day and ruing a tough afternoon spent on drying, quickening greens.

First prize is $1.26 million.