Byrd takes outright lead at AT&T Classic

Jonathan Byrd carded his second consecutive six-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the AT&T Classic last night.

Tied for the lead with four other players after the weather-interrupted opening round, the 30-year-old Byrd fired seven birdies and a lone bogey to reach 12-under 132 at the halfway mark at TPC Sugarloaf.

Starting on the back nine, the 2002 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year birdied his first two holes and was 10 under at the turn after two further birdies.

He then made three straight birdies from the third to fifth to go to 13 under before dropping his only shot of the day at the par-five sixth.

Byrd, who is seeking his first PGA Tour victory since last July's John Deere Classic, has a three-shot lead over Ryan Palmer and Kenny Perry, who both shot 69s to move to nine-under 135.

Perry bogeyed the fourth but rebounded with four birdies while Palmer recovered from a double bogey at the fifth, carding an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in an eventful second round.

Charles Howell III (69), David Toms (69) and Parker McLachlin (70) are tied for fourth at eight-under 136 with Heath Slocum (68) and Colombia's Camilo Villegas (69) a further shot back in joint seventh.

Defending champion Zach Johnson shot a two-under 70 and is tied for 10th on five under.