Parnevik leads by 2 at Greensboro

Jesper Parnevik, Jim Furyk and Jeff Maggert are threatening to turn the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic into their own private golf outing.

They’ve even invited close friends to be their caddies.

The trio took advantage of calm morning conditions and soft greens to stage a record-setting shootout during Friday’s second round at the Forest Oaks Country Club.

When the scoring barrage was over, Parnevik had the tournament lead at 16 under par, two shots ahead of Furyk and Maggert. Dudley Hart shot a 65 late in the day and was three behind Parnevik at 13-under.

The top three players have thrived despite going without their regular caddies this week. “Maybe that’s the key,” Parnevik said.

Parnevik fired his longtime caddie, Lorne Duncan, last week and hired part-time tour player Lance Ten Broeck to carry his bag in Greensboro. Maggert’s girlfriend, Michelle Austin, a Greensboro native, is caddying for him in place of regular caddie Brian Sullivan. Furyk was using an old college friend, Jeff Manson, in place of newly hired Mike “Fluff” Cowan, who is vacationing in Scotland.

Parnevik birdied seven holes and dropped in a 115-yard sand wedge at the par-4 seventh for an eagle to shoot a 63, one shy of the course record. His two-day total of 128 topped by one shot the 36-hole tournament record set by Jeff Sluman in 1988.

“I thought it was hard to beat yesterday’s round of 65,” Parnevik said. “It was a little easier today because you could stop the ball by the pins on pretty much every hole.”

Maggert and Furyk, playing in the group behind Parnevik during the first two rounds, matched the leader shot for shot.

Maggert, third on the money list, had eight birdies and an eagle and tied the course record of 62. Furyk had eight birdies and shot a 63.

Maggert and Furyk were two behind Parnevik heading into the weekend.

“It was fun,” Furyk said. “Jeff was playing really well and I think so was I. We probably carried each other a little bit.”

Parnevik, Furyk and Maggert started their rounds on the back nine and Maggert missed short birdie putts on Nos. 10 and 11 before rolling in a 6-foot birdie putt on No. 12. He chipped in for eagle at the par-5 13th and birdied the next three holes, capping the run with a 20-foot putt on No. 16.

“The greens were very soft,” Maggert said. “The course was perfect for making birdies.” Furyk parred his first four holes then birdied four of the next five.(Associated Press)