Craig Bowden leads by one in Utah

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Badz/PGA TOUR

Craig Bowden's back-to-back 65s at the Utah Championship have given him a one-stroke lead.

SANDY, Utah -- Craig Bowden recorded his second-consecutive 65 to get to 12-under par and leads by a shot after the second round of the Utah Championship presented by Utah Sports Commission. John Kimbell is one back at 11 under and the quintet of Steve Wheatcroft, Dave Schultz, Alistair Presnell, Josh Teater and Garrett Willis are tied for third at 10-under par.

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Bowden was in the first group of the day and took the early clubhouse lead. He attributes his performance so far to prowess on the greens.

"I'm putting the ball really well," he said. "I'm seeing and hitting my lines and have made some putts, which you sure have to do to be competitive. I've gotten some good breaks and created some for myself as well."

After hitting 12 of 12 fairways in the first round, Bowden hit only six in the second. He recorded a 4-under-par 32 on the back nine despite missing every fairway opportunity but one.

"I didn't drive it as straight today and hit some first cuts [of rough]. But I was able to capitalize when I got good lies and convert a few times for birdies," he remarked. "I've kind of got it on auto-pilot right now -- just letting it roll and not worrying too much."

Bowden and Kimbell are the only players in the field yet to make a bogey after 36 holes.

"I haven't made any bogeys up to this point and if I can continue that trend I think it'll be alright by the time Sunday afternoon rolls around," he continued. "My goal is to get to about 20-under and see if that holds up. If I continue doing what I'm doing I think I'll have a decent shot at it."

Bowden, 41, is a Nationwide Tour veteran making his eighth appearance at the Utah Classic. He finished tied for second here in 1999 and has three career Tour wins.

Willis made charge in the afternoon wave, firing a 7-under-par 71. He was 8 under through 13 holes and within one shot of Bowden before bogeying No. 8 (his 17th of the day).

First-round leader Presnell had a rollercoaster round that included six birdies, two bogeys and a double en route to a 2-under-par 69. Schultz turned in the low round of the day with a course-record-tying 63. His round included an eagle, seven birdies and one bogey.

The field was cut to 61 players at 3-under-par or better. The third round begins at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday morning with twosomes going off the first tee. The final group of Bowden and Kimbell tees off at 1:30 p.m.

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Notebook

• American flags were used on the pins today in remembrance of September 11th.

• Fran Quinn holed out for eagle on the par-4 14th with a gap wedge from 110 yards. In the same group, Bob Burns was next to play and hit his approach to a foot and subsequently converted for birdie. Josh Broadaway then hit his second, which found the left greenside rough -- from which he proceeded to chip in for birdie.

• Scoring averages: