Aug 23, 2008 - 11:18 PM
0 shoutsSNOQUALMIE, Washington (Ticker) -- Scott Simpson shot a 6-under-par 66 to take a two-shot lead after two rounds of the Boeing Classic on Saturday.
Simpson has a two-round total of 133 and holds a two-shot advantage over David Edwards.
This marks the first time in 80 career starts on the Champions Tour that Simpson has the lead going into the final round of an event. So far in 2008, 10 of 21 second- and third-round leaders have gone on to win a Champions Tour event.
Simpson carded six birdies - including five in a seven-hole stretch on the back nine - and has recorded 11 overall in the this $1.6 million event.
"I played pretty good overall," Simpson said. "I didn't hit it as well as (Friday), but putted really well. Overall, it's great to get the putter rolling."
Simpson, who has six top-10 finishes this season and is coming off a sixth-place finish at the JELD-WEN Tradition, has 36 bogey-free holes. The American has notched two third-place finishes and 16 top-25s.
"I don't watch the scoreboard too closely," Simpson said. "(Sunday) I will on the back nine. It didn't matter today; we have a long way to go."
Edwards shot a 67 to go with his opening round 68 and stands at 135.
"I played well today," Edwards said. "I had a pretty solid round and I'd like to have another day like that (Sunday). This year has been not bad and not good. I'll play one good round and one bad. It's frustrating, but that's golf. I'm playing better now and I hope I have one more good round in me."
Three shots back at 136 are 2006 champion Tom Kite, who fired a 5-under-par 67, and Mark Wiebe, who was tied with Simpson entering the second round but fell back, notching five birdies and two bogeys en route to a 69.
"I had some opportunities I let get away," Kite said. "It could've been a special round, but you're not going to get them all. Winning still feels good and being nervous, scared and pumped up down the stretch is exciting."
Bruce Fleisher, currently in fifth place, is seeking his first top-10 finish in a Champions Tour event since he was tied for sixth in April 2006 at the FedEx Kinko's Classic in Austin.
Defending champion Denis Watson, a two-time winner this season and the reigning Rookie of the Year, struggled to a 74 in the first round. on Saturday, he birdied three of the last six holes and finished with a 67 to move to 3-under 141.
Last year, Watson had to work overtime for the win as a seven-way playoff was needed to determine the champion.
First prize is $240,000.
