Narrow lead for Stiles in Cromwell

Darron Stiles carded his second four-under-par 66 at the River Highlands and has a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the Buick Championship.

A four-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, Stiles had a pair of ninth-place finishes last season, the best of his career.

One of them came here and Stiles demonstrated his mastery of the course in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Starting on the 10th, Stiles was even for the round after a bogey at the 18th.

He rebounded with three straight birdies to start his final nine and he closed with a birdie at the ninth to take a one-shot lead over Australia’s Peter Lonard.

Stiles has the lead but there are 12 players within three shots and a group of 14 is another stroke back.

Despite the large group chasing him, Stiles was not focused on the leaderboard.

“I’m not playing those guys. I’m playing the golf course,” Stiles said. “Whoever beats the golf course the best over those 36 holes is going to win.”

Lonard opened with a 65 and followed it up with three birdies and a bogey on Friday for a two-under 68.

The Australian, who was part of a four-way tie for the lead after the first round, is at seven-under.

Stewart Cink carded a bogey free 65 on Friday to grab a share of third at six-under. Starting on the 10th, Cink fired birdies at the 12th, 13th and 15th.

The winner here in 1997, Cink added back-to-back birdies coming in on the second and third.

“I was really relaxed today and usually that leads to good scoring,” Cink said. “I was able to keep the ball in the fairway.

“I think I only missed one fairway. These days this course isn’t as difficult as it used to be. A lot of variables have changed the game and this course is just if you keep it in play you can make birdie on a lot of holes.

“I felt I was putting for birdie all day and made five and could have made more. It was a great round.”

Todd Fischer (68), Scott Verplank (69) and 2000 champ Notah Begay III (66) are tied with Cink at six-under.