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Sabbatini leads WGC Invitational at halfway stage

04/08/2007

Rory Sabbatini leads at the halfway stage of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone on six-under-par - two shots ahead of US Masters champion Zach Johnson.

Sabbatini began the day tied for the lead with England's Paul Casey and American Hunter Mahan, but while Casey and Mahan faltered Sabbatini prospered, carding his second successive round of three-under.

He began with a birdie at the first and picked up another at the par-three fifth, before immediately giving the shot back at the next hole.

After dropping another stroke at the 14th the South African then produced three consecutive birdies to climb back to the top of the leaderboard.

Sabbatini said: "There is no doubt in my mind. The course is only going to get tougher.

"There are opportunities where you can be aggressive but you have to kind of back down and just give the course respect, otherwise it will hit you pretty quickly."

Casey and Mahan both scored rounds of three-over-par to slip back to even-par for the tournament.

Johnson shared the round of the day with Davis Love III after both players carded a 65. Johnson's helped him rise to second on the leaderboard.

The 31-year-old hit six birdies in his round and a bogey at the last hole was the only blemish on his card.

Tiger Woods had an even-par second round to remain in contention on two-under. He is tied for third place with fellow Americans Kenny Perry and Scott Verplank.

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