SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Billy Horschel had six birdies in a four-under par 68 Friday to seize a two-stroke halfway lead in the US PGA Tour's $6.2 million Texas Open. Horschel's eight-under par total of 136 gave him a two-shot lead over Daniel Summerhays, Charley Hoffman and Australia's Steven Bowditch. It was a further stroke back to a group of seven players sharing fifth place on 139, which included Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy. McIlroy, toppled from the world No. 1 spot by Tiger Woods in March, added the Texas Open to his schedule to give himself more rounds before next week's Masters, the first men's major of the year. He was feeling good about that move on Friday, after a five-under par 67 that included seven birdies and two bogeys. McIlroy birdied his last three holes, draining a 26-foot putt at the 16th and a 12-footer at 17. He reached the green of the TPC San Antonio's par-five 18th in two and just missed a 25-foot eagle attempt. Two-time major champion McIlroy is among the few golfers to reach 18 in two this week, and he was also on the green in two at the 592-yard, par-five eighth — but missed his 12-foot eagle attempt. Horschel birdied his last two holes for his second straight 68, dropping birdie putts of more than 10 feet at both the 17th and 18th. In search of a first PGA Tour victory, he's hoping to keep building on the momentum of a runner-up finish in Houston last Sunday. Hoffman climbed up the leaderboard with a 67 that included six birdies and a bogey. Bowditch carded a 69 as did Summerhays to share second on 138. Among the players joining McIlroy on 139 were South Korean K.J. Choi, South African Retief Goosen and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge. Park grabs slim lead In California, Inbee Park notched six birdies in a five-under par 67 Friday to take a one-shot lead at the halfway mark of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of the LPGA season. Park, seeking to add a second major title to her resume, had a seven-under total of 137 for a one-shot lead over American Lizette Salas. Salas carded a four-under 68 at Mission Hills and her total of 138 put her one stroke in front of Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (68) and Italian Giulia Sergas (59). Park started the day two shots off the overnight lead shared by England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff, South Korean Na Yeon Choi and Norway's Suzann Pettersen. Birdies at the third, fifth and ninth saw her take sole possession of the lead, and she put together a burst of three birdies in a row from the 11th before a bogey at 14 slowed her a bit. Ewart Shadoff was the lone member of the first round's leading trio who wasn't over par for the day. She had two birdies and two bogeys in her even-par 72. Defending champion Sun Young Yoo carded a 76 Friday and missed the cut with a 36-hole total of 153. American Stacy Lewis carded a 71 for an even-par total of 144. Tseng's 75 dropped her to a tie for 52nd on 147. New Zealand teen Lydia Ko had three bogeys and one birdie in a 74 for 146. — Agencies
