MADISON, Mississippi: Brendon de Jonge used a fast early start to shoot his second straight 66 Friday, and Bill Haas answered the challenge with the same score as the pair remained tied atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the Viking Classic. Neither leader had a bogey during their second round and moved to 12 under at Annandale Golf Club. De Jonge, who made his 30th start this year at the Viking Classic, never held a second-round lead before, although he has finished in the Top 10 six times this year. He said his second round was not perfect, but close enough. “You never want to say it's an easy round,” he said. “I felt like it could have been a couple better, but I'll take 66 any time.” De Jonge, 36th on the PGA money list, is still looking for first victory. “I've been there late Sunday several times this year,” he said. “I haven't been able to close the deal, but I've definitely had some very good opportunities this year.” Haas, who shot back-to-back bogey-free rounds, credited his putting for keeping him from bogeying. “I made about a 5 footer on hole No. 4,” Haas said. “That's about the longest putt I've had to save par. There's easy holes out there, and there's hard holes.” Haas was surprised at how well he was playing, having taken the last two weeks off. Michael Allen, winless since joining the tour in 1984, finished three strokes back after a 6-under 66. Allen is one of eight active players without a win. Nathan Green offset a bogey with five birdies for a 68 on the day, putting him at 9 under through two rounds. Bill Lund who had a share of the first-round lead, shot a 70 to put him four strokes back, and Joe Durant's round of 67 left him at 7 under. The best rounds of the day were posted by Chris Stroud and Roland Thatcher, who shot 65s. Stroud was 6 under with five others, Thatcher was at 139. The cut was made at even-par and left 79 players in the field. A second cut will be made Saturday when the tournament will try to get to the top 70 players. Among the players not making the cut were David Duval, John Daly, and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman.
