McCarron, Dimarco share lead

DULUTH, APRIL 1. Scott McCarron and Chris Dimarco shared the lead, but defending champion Phil Mickelson was only one stroke behind after the second round at the $ 3.3 million Bellsouth Classic.

Mccarron, the 1997 champion, and Dimarco both shot five-under-par 67 in benign morning conditions at the Sugarloaf TPC, while Mickelson, aided by two chip-ins, carded 66 in the afternoon.

McCarron and Dimarco were at nine-under 135, Mickelson was alone on 136, while Dennis Paulson (65) and Japan's Kaname Yokoo (69) were two shots behind. World number three Ernie Els, who was six over par after nine holes of the first round, continued his comeback with a 67 that left him six strokes off the pace. It was his first sub-70 score in 11 rounds.

Following Thursday's washout, the PGA tour scheduled 36 holes for Sunday in an effort to finish the tournament on time. The field was reduced to 53 players for the final two rounds.

Mickelson was excited at the prospect of playing 36 holes on Sunday: ``At the U.S. Open, they used to play 36 holes on Saturday,'' he said. ``I think it will be a great opportunity for the players of today to experience what it was like then. We rarely play 36 in one day but I love it. If you get into a rhythm, you can really play well not just for one round, but for two, and make up a lot of ground.''

Of his round, Mickelson continued: ``The front nine I played very well, the back nine I just hung on. I didn't strike it very well on the backside.''

McCarron is not in the Masters, but Dimarco is, and he is especially keen to get there because he has never seen the course before.

``I hope we finish on Sunday, because I need all three days to get ready for that course,'' Dimarco, who scored his first PGA tour victory last year, said of Augusta National.

``I don't know anything about it. I've been picking brains, asking questions. When I get there, I'll know some places not to go. At least I'll have that.

``My distance control (with my irons) is really good, and I know that's what you need next week. Obviously I'm pretty pumped up. I'm trying to not look forward to next week, to concentrate on this week, but it's pretty hard.''

``Six over after nine holes on Saturday, I totally looked like a 12 or 15 handicapper,'' said the South African, who last year finished runner-up in three of the four majors.

``The way I felt after nine holes, I could easily have had a bad back. I could have been in Orlando now. The last 27 holes have been good.

``The changes I made to my grip recently are definitely coming around. I needed this round. Now I'm really looking forward to next week.''

- Reuters

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