GOLF DIGEST: American Michael Bradley, playing on the 2008 PGA Tour with a medical exemption, fired a two-under-par 68 to hold a share of the clubhouse lead in the St Jude Championship second round in Memphis, Tennessee yesterday.
The 41-year-old Florida native piled up four birdies and two bogeys on another blustery, sweltering day at the TPC Southwind to post a three-under total of 137.
Bradley, limited to only eight Tour events last year after breaking his right ankle midway through the season, finished the round level with fellow American Jason Dufner, who carded a matching 68.
Three-times major winner Vijay Singh returned a 71 to lie a further stroke back, along with Germany's Alex Cejka (69).
Overnight leader Boo Weekley, who opened with a spectacular 65, was among the day's later starters. Padraig Harrington added a second round of 72 to his opening 71 and his three-over tally appears certain to make the cut, which is expected to be four-over, 144, by a shot.
Bradley, a double winner on the PGA Tour whose last victory came at the 1998 Doral-Ryder Open, mixed three birdies with a lone bogey to reach the turn in two-under 33. He offset another bogey, at the par-four sixth, with a birdie at the par-three eighth to stay at three under overall.
Twice US Open champion Retief Goosen and former world number one David Duval both look in in danger of missing out.
JERSEY CLASSIC: Tony Johnstone produced his "best putting performance in five years" to take the early clubhouse lead in the first round of the Jersey Seniors Classic.
Johnstone's famed short game helped him tame the breezy conditions at La Moye Golf Club as he carded a three-under-par round of 69 to lead Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan by one stroke.
The 52-year-old from Zimbabwe, who finished tied 19th in his first event of the season at the Parkridge Polish Seniors Open last week, dropped a shot on the 17th hole but birdied the last to end his round on a high.
He said: "The conditions were tough today with the wind so I had to putt well and that was the best I have putted for five years.
"Last week in Poland I played really well but putted badly. I had a season of that last year so I spent the week working on it back in Sunningdale and it seems to be paying off. I've waited a while to putt like that.
"I haven't played on this course since the 1980s and it's now a fantastic golf course. I love links courses and we've got three in a row now. It suits my game and it's what golf was made for."
England's Peter Mitchell is four shots off the lead after finishing on one over par in his debut on the European Seniors Tour.
He admitted it was nice to be back on the golf course after completing his first competitive round since 2003.
"It was nice to be out there again," said Mitchell. "It was tricky with the wind but I'm happy with the start I've made."
Scotland's Sam Torrance, who has been struggling with a wrist injury, was forced to pull out after completing his 18 holes, finishing 11 over par.
WOMEN'S DUTCH OPEN: Defending champion Gwladys Nocera and Jade Schaeffer, both from France, tied for the first round lead on five-under-par 67 at the ABN AMRO Women's Open in the Netherlands.
Both 33-year-old Nocera, seeking her seventh European Tour title, and second year Tour player Schaeffer (21) piled up three birdies and an eagle at Eindhovensche Golf to lead by one over a group of six players.
One shot back in a share of third on four-under-par 68 was England's Melissa Reid, Ireland's Rebecca Coakley, Italy's Margherita Rigon, Finland's Ursula Wikstrom and two further French players, Cassandra Kirkland and Anne-Lise Caudal.
Coakley, a fourth year LET player aiming for a maiden tour victory, posted a season best tie for 11th, with a career-low 63 in the first round, at the Deutsche Bank Ladies' Swiss Open a fortnight ago. She was pleased to be coming into form ahead of the main leg of the summer season.
"It's starting to come together," said Coakley, Ireland's leading player on the LET. "Today I hit the ball good for the first nine and a little average on the back nine but made a few birdies."
Four players shared ninth place on three under, Lynn Brooky from New Zealand, Italy's Sophie Sandolo, England's Felicity Johnson and Spain's Paula Marti.
