Briny Baird birdied the final two holes for a three-under-par 69 to seize the second-round lead at the New Orleans Classic on Friday. Baird sank a 20-foot putt at the last to finish eight under on 136, one stroke better than Australian Peter Lonard and fellow American Jay Williamson. Lonard surged into the lead after a run of three birdies in four holes but bogeys at the 15th, 17th and 18th forced him to settle for a 70. Tied on six-under 138 were holder Nick Watney (67), who took only 21 putts, fellow American Tommy Armour III (68) and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama (68). South African Tim Clark, who began his round on the back nine, produced a dazzling finish to move into contention. Clark birdied the seventh and eighth before recording a hole-in-one at the 210-yard, par-three ninth for a six-under 66. He was among a group of 10 players on 139. “Certainly the best finish I've ever had to a round of golf with a one,” Clark told reporters. “Hit a six-iron in there. It hit soft and disappeared.” “I don't see myself shooting too many six-unders on this golf course being as long as it is, but I played solid today, and in my last 27 holes now, I'm nine under.” Among those failing to qualify for weekend play were fourth-ranked Steve Stricker at 145, after a 75, former Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada at 146 (75) and twice major winner John Daly at 150 (77).Stanford stays on top In Arizona, Angela Stanford kept her nose in front at the Safeway International on Friday as some of the LPGA Tour's top players made their moves in the $1.5 million tournament. Stanford carded a three-under-par 69 on Friday to cling to a one-shot lead over world number one Lorena Ochoa after two rounds. Stanford, whose sparkling 10-under 62 on Thursday had given her a three-shot lead over Mexico's Ochoa, moved to 13-under 131 and saw the gap dwindle. Ochoa carded six birdies and one bogey in her second-round 67 for sole possession of second place on 132, two shots ahead of South Korea's Jee Young Lee (67). Former world number one Annika Sorenstam also made a charge, posting a bogey-free 67 that put her five shots back and into a tie with Michele Redman one eight-under 136. Millar grabs share of lead Australia's Matthew Millar grabbed a share of the second round lead at the Andalucian Open on Friday after firing a three-under-par 69. Millar, eight under for the tournament, tops the leaderboard with Sweden's Peter Hedblom with the duo one shot ahead of Englishmen Robert Dinwiddie and David Lynn and Frenchman Thomas Levet who all finished on seven under par 137. Lee Westwood is one of six players two shots off the pace. With him is Welshman Bradley Dredge. Jose Maria Olazabal made the cut. __
