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Campbell Makes Himself At Home

October 15, 2009
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Chad Campbell is looking to end a windless drought in the town where he played his college golf.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Chad Campbell closed with an eagle on the par-5 ninth for a 9-under 62 and a share of the second-round lead Friday with Troy Matteson in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Campbell, a former UNLV player, also had seven birdies in his bogey-free round in warm conditions at TPC Summerlin.

"I didn't hit a very good tee shot," Campbell said about his final hole. "I hit it a little left. Luckily, it stopped short of the bunker and had a perfect lie. (It was) just a perfect 3-wood (shot) and I was able to hit it up there 12 to 15 feet. ... It was definitely a great way to finish a round."

Matteson followed his career-best 62 with a 67 to match Campbell at 13-under 129.

Matt Kuchar, coming off a victory two weeks at Turning Stone in the Falls Series opener, shot a 64 to join former UNLV player Ryan Moore (63), Bob Heintz (67) and Martin Laird (67) at 12 under.

"I think the back nine is the nine that people are going to be taking advantage of," Kuchar said after his sixth straight round in the 60s. "I did it today. I shot 6 under on the back side and only 1 under on the front side.

"It seems like people are making the majority of their birdies on the back side. It makes for some fun finishing holes."

Moore eagled the par-5 16th and had six birdies.

"Every hole is a birdie hole if you can get in position," Moore said. "So even if you do make a bogey or two, you feel like you can bounce back right away and make some birdies."

Rickie Fowler (64), the 2008 college player of the year as a freshman at Oklahoma State, was 11 under in his first PGA Tour start as a professional.

Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk (67) also was 11 under along with Las Vegas native Scott Piercy (67) and Tom Pernice Jr. (69), the Champions Tour winner who shared the first-round lead with Matteson and Spencer Levin after an opening 62. Piercy's wife Sara delivered son Jett on Thursday night.

U.S. Presidents Cup team member Hunter Mahan was 9 under after a 63.

"Yes, I hit a lot of fairways," said Mahan, who had 26 putts. "I gave myself a lot of good looks with some short irons and was able to make some."

Levin also was 9 under after a 71.

The cut was at 4-under 138. Among the 73 players who failed to advance were defending champion Marc Turnesa and U.S. Presidents Cup team member Anthony Kim.