May 28, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1427

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VIRGINIA WATER (England), May 27: Order of merit leader David Howell took advantage of the calmer conditions late in the day to claim a three-stroke lead in the PGA Championship second round at Wentworth on Friday.

After the blustery winds of the morning died down to make scoring easier for the late starters in the European Tour's flagship event, Howell powered to an eight-birdie 65 for an 11-under-par tally of 133.

The 30-year-old was three ahead of fellow Briton Nick Dougherty (69) and four clear of holder Angel Cabrera (69) of Argentina and Swede Robert Karlsson (68). Simon Khan of Britain was fifth on six-under 138.

Darkness forced play to be suspended with 12 players still out on the course.

Leading second round scores:

133 – David Howell (Britain) 68, 65.

136 – Nick Dougherty (Britain) 67, 69.

137 – Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 68, 69; Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 69, 68

138 – Simon Khan (Britain) 70, 68.

139 – Paul Casey (Britain) 67, 72; Francois Delamontagne (France) 69, 70; Luke Donald (Britain) 67, 72.

140 – Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 70, 70; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 68, 72; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 71, 69; Peter Lawrie (Ireland) 68, 72.

STILES SETS PACE

MEMPHIS (Tennessee): Little-known American Darron Stiles charged into a two-shot lead with a six-under-par 64 in gusting winds at the St Jude Classic in on Friday.

The 32-year-old from Florida, playing his third season on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 1995, mixed eight birdies with a double-bogey six in the second round for a combined seven-under 133 at the TPC at Southwind.

Leading second round scores:

133 – Darron Stiles (US) 69, 64135 – Tom Pernice Jr (US) 67, 68; Chris Smith (US) 64, 71; Tim Herron (US) 70, 65.

136 – David Toms (US) 69, 67; Brian Gay (US) 69, 67; Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 70, 66.

137 – Robert Garrigus (US) 69, 68; Dan Forsman (US) 69, 68; Ryan Palmer (US) 69, 68.

138 – John Senden (Australia) 73, 65; Jeff Maggert (US) 72, 66; John Cook (US) 69, 69; Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68, 70.

139 – Paul Azinger (US) 67, 72; Briny Baird (US) 71, 68; Michael Allen (US) 70, 69; Casey Wittenberg (US) 74, 65; Zach Johnson (US) 68, 71; Mark Calcavecchia (US) 68, 71; Jay Delsing (US) 70, 69; Scott Sterling (US) 74, 65.

140 – Steve Stricker (US) 68, 72; Matt Kuchar (US) 72, 68; Bob May (US) 69, 71; Patrick Sheehan (US) 72, 68; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 72, 68; Brett Quigley (US) 69, 71.

STRANGE STILL LEADS

MANILA: Australian Scott Strange battled tough conditions to shoot a level-par 72 and open up a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Philippine Open on Saturday.

Leading third round scores:

210 – Scott Strange (Australia) 68, 70, 72.

211 – Yeh Chang-ting (Taiwan) 69, 69, 73.

214 – Cookie Lao (Philippines) 70, 74, 70; Chris Rodgers (Britain) 70, 69, 75.

215 – Hsieh Chin-sheng (Taiwan) 71, 73, 71; Lu Wei-lan (Taiwan) 69, 74, 72.

216 – Angelo Que (Philippines) 71, 75, 70; Adam Porker (Australia) 73, 72, 71; Unho Park (Australia) 72, 71, 73; Juvic Pagunsan (Philippines) 72, 70, 74.—Agencies