Love among trio tied for lead at Hartford

CROMWELL, Conn. -- Davis Love III put his U.S. Open preparation to good use Friday in the Greater Hartford Open.

Love shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 64 in breezy afternoon conditions for a share of the second-round lead with Briny Baird and Jonathan Kaye at 8-under 132.

"I spent three or four weeks getting ready for the U.S. Open," said Love, coming off a 24th-place tie last week at Bethpage Black. "I'm tournament sharp and tough ... and a little bit mad.

"It's a lot more relaxing golf course than last week. There's nothing wrong with 8-under leading the golf tournament. The fans don't want to see guys putting for par."

He holed a 27-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 15th after a poor chip from the swale in front of the green, and made four other birdies putts from 12-to-15 feet.

He has 14 PGA Tour titles, but only one in the last four years -- the 2001 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"I just need four good rounds," Love said. "I've had two or three, but not four."

Baird and Kay, both winless on the tour, shot 67s on the TPC at River Highlands. Scott Hoch (66) and Kaname Yokoo (68) were a stroke back at 7-under, and Len Mattiace (64), David Peoples (65), Peter Lonard (68) and Hidemichi Tanaka (70) were 6-under.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia shot 67s to reach 4-under and Ernie Els was 1-under after a 70.

LPGA Tour

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Mi Hyun Kim shot a 5-under-par 67 to move into a tie with Karrie Webb for the second-round lead at the LPGA Rochester International.

Webb, whose 64 broke the record for the best opening round in the tournament's 26-year history, shot an even-par 72 for a two-round total of 136.

Hall of Famer Beth Daniel moved into contention with a 68 that put her just two shots behind. Defending champion Laura Davies had a steady 69 and was in a three-way tie at 4-under 140 with Meg Mallon and Gloria Park.

Senior PGA Tour

HUNT VALLEY, Md. -- Rodger Davis made five of his eight birdies on the back nine and shot a 7-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead with Jim Ahern and John Mahaffey at the Greater Baltimore Classic.

Bruce Fleisher, John Jacobs and Mike McCullough were two shots behind, and Bobby Wadkins was among four players at 68.

Chi Chi Rodriguez used an eagle on 18 to finish in a group of nine players at 69.

Missouri Amateur

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Former Southeast Missouri State University golfer Bryan Johnson advanced to the quarterfinals of the Missouri Amateur Golf Championships with a pair of match-play victories Friday at Twin Oaks Country Club.

Johnson, who reached the semifinals last year, defeated Jay Gregory of Cameron 4-and-3 in the round of 32 and then disposed of Derek Reynolds of Springfield 2-up to reach the quarterfinals.

Ben Godwin of Poplar Bluff, Mo., also reached the quarterfinals, ousting Vernon Bennett of Springfield 1-up and then eliminating Cory Ewert of Columbia, Mo., 5-and-4.

Mark Allen of Jackson, Mo., fell short in the round of 32, getting eliminated by Travis Mitchell of Springfield 3-and-2.

-- From staff, wire reports