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Rod Pampling plays in the sand

Rod Pampling hits out of a bunker on the eighth green during the second round of the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday. Pampling shot a 7-under-par 63. PHOTO: AP

Rod Pampling spent plenty of time in the sand during the second round of the Colonial on Friday. So what was he doing from there?

"Making pars," Pampling quip-ped after his career-best 7-under 63.

And even a couple of birdies.

Pampling was 5-for-5 in sand saves, including his last two holes, to get to 10-under 130 and a stroke ahead of first-round leader Stewart Cink (67), Stephen Ames (66) and US PGA Tour rookie Charley Hoffman (66).

"Ball striking-wise, I don't think it was one of my better rounds," Pampling said. "But it was right up there in controlling myself and controlling my emotions. I didn't get flustered."

On his closing hole, the 408-yard ninth, Pampling hit his tee shot into a left fairway bunker and his approach over the green into more sand before blasting to 6 feet. At the par-3 eighth, the Australian hit a greenside bunker and saved par with an 11-foot putt.

Tim Herron (65), Peter Lonard (66) and Dean Wilson (65), best known at Colonial as Annika Sorenstam's playing partner three years ago, were two strokes back at 132.

"I'm glad I'm in contention," Herron said. "Besides the Kenny Perrys, it's always been a close Colonial. It depends on if Kenny Perry goes off."

Perry, the defending champion, was six strokes off the lead after five birdies and five bogeys in a round of 70. Perry had record 19-under totals in 2003 and 2005 at the Colonial to win by wide margins.

Fredrik Jacobson matched his career best with a 62, a bogey-free round that was the best of the day. He joined Jim Furyk (67), Arron Oberholser (68), Richard Johnson (65) and Henrik Bjornstad (64) at 7 under.

Two-time Colonial champion Ben Crenshaw, the 54-year-old who returned as part of the tournament's 60th anniversary, made the cut with a 67 that got him to even par. There were 77 players who made the cut, 1-over 141 for the third time in four years.

Pampling started with three straight birdies, including the first sand save at the 611-yard No. 11.
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