HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Jim Furyk added his own touch to Harbour Town's famous 18th hole Friday, rolling in a 56-foot birdie putt for a two-shot lead in the Verizon Heritage hours after Aaron Baddeley's unlikely eagle there.
Putting from the back fringe, Furyk had simply hoped for a good lag and an easy par on the final hole. Instead, he watched his ball strike the flagstick and fall in. His 4-under 67 left him at 11 under, two strokes in front of Baddeley (67), Brian Gay (67), Duffy Waldorf (68) and first-round leader Vaughn Taylor (70).
Furyk's long birdie also added to the Friday fireworks near the lighthouse hole.
Baddeley capped a late charge — he had three birdies and the eagle in his final five holes — at the magnificent seaside hole featuring Sea Pines' red-and-white striped lighthouse as a backdrop. Baddeley struck a smooth 8-iron about 160 yards that hit the green and bounced into the cup.
LPGA: Lorena Ochoa shot a 4-under 68 in windy conditions to take a two-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome in the Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas. After an opening 63 in ideal conditions the previous day, Ochoa didn't tee off until noon and had to contend with afternoon gusts that whipped the flags on the greens. She was at 13-under 131 through two days of the 54-hole tournament. Lincicome completed most of her round of 65 before the wind kicked up. Paula Creamer and Seon Hwa Lee were three strokes back at 10 under.