Morse continues to lead at midway point in q-school

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CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- John Morse (Marshall, Mich.) shot a 3-under-par 69 on Wednesday and leads at the midway point of the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament at TPC Eagle Trace. Morse has a 36-hole total of 8-under-par 136 to lead Mark Johnson (Helendale, Calif.) by three strokes.

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Things are looking good for John Morse, who has posted two consecutive rounds in the 60s.

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Monday recap

Morse is the only player in the 78-player field to post two straight rounds in the 60s. He had opened with a 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday and led by just one shot. However, despite cool, windy conditions, Morse was able to increase his lead to three as only 11 players finished the second round under par and only nine players have 36-hole totals of par or better.

"Conditions were difficult out there today," Morse said. "The winds were gusty at times and made it difficult, especially when you were putting downwind. But it turned out to be a good day for me. I made a couple of great saves and a couple of boo-boos, but it all worked out for me."

The saves Morse were referring to came on Nos. 3 and 11. He drained a 20-footer for par at No. 3 after hitting it into a greenside bunker and then made a 15-footer at No. 11 after a poor tee shot. His only blemish in the round came at No. 6 when he three-putted for a bogey.

Former PGA TOUR winner Jay Don Blake (St. George, Utah) and Robert Thompson (Huntsville, Texas) are tied for third place at 2-under-par 142.

The 2008 field also includes several notable PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and former amateur players. Here is where several of those players stand after the second round: Russ Cochran (T21), David Ogrin (T5), Ron Streck (T21), Massy Kuramoto (T10), Curt Byrum (T15), Mike Donald (T26), Mike Hulbert (T15), Dave Rummells (T26), Ronnie Black (T15), Mark James (T15), Gary Hallberg (T56); Jerry Courville (T63), John Harris (T41), Clarence Rose (T34) and Donnie Hammond (T63).

There is no cut in the 72-hole qualifier. At the conclusion of play on Friday, the top-5 finishers earn fully-exempt status for the 2009 season, while the next seven players will be conditionally exempt. In addition, the top 30 finishers and ties will be eligible to compete for spots in open qualifiers at all co-sponsored events on the Champions Tour in 2009.