PINE MOUNTAIN (Georgia), Oct 27: American Davis Love vaulted into the lead at the midway point of the $3.4 million Buick Challenge with a sizzling 10-under-par 62 in the second round on Friday.

Love was on fire from the start, birdying five of the first seven holes. He continued to make light of the windy conditions at Callaway Gardens Resort by adding five more birdies on the back nine to finish on 130, 14 under par.

The 37-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina held a one-stroke lead over Fiji’s Vijay Singh (67) and American Chris DiMarco (64), with Neal Lancaster of the U.S. another shot back on 132 after a five-under 67.

Two more Americans, Joel Edwards (68) and Jeff Maggert (66), were on 133, one ahead of fellow countryman Bob Estes (63). Sweden’s Per-Ulrik Johansson (70) was alone in eighth position on 135.

Love produced a closing 61 at the Las Vegas Classic two weeks ago but said Friday’s round topped that.

Love, who won this event in 1997, used his length off the tee to help set up several birdie opportunities.

First-round co-leader Singh could not match Love but his 67 kept him in contention for his first title since last year’s U.S. Masters.

DiMarco offset a pair of bogeys with an eagle and eight birdies in his eight-under round.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who shared the overnight lead with Singh, stumbled badly as he struggled to a 79, 15 strokes worse than his first tour of the course. He missed the cut by one shot on 143.

Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the lucrative season-ending Tour Championship by carding a 69 to narrowly make the cut on 142, two under.

The Tour Championship field is limited to the year’s top 30 money winners.

Love could have had an even lower score but he missed a six- foot eagle putt on the 11th hole and failed with birdie attempts at the 16th and 18th.

Defending champion David Duval, who has struggled since capturing his first major at the British Open in July, was among a group of four Americans on 136 after returning a 69.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els of South Africa missed the cut on 144.

Leading second scores (U.S. unless noted):

130 Davis Love 68 62

131 Chris DiMarco 67 64, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 64 67

132 Neal Lancaster 65 67

133 Joel Edwards 65 68, Jeff Maggert 67 66

134 Bob Estes 71 63

135 Per-Ulrik Johansson (Sweden) 65 70

136 David Duval 67 69, Jonathan Kaye 68 68, Mark O’Meara 66 70, Mike Sposa 65 71

137 Shaun Micheel 67 70, Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 68 69, Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 67 70, Chris Riley 68 69, Harrison Frazar 67 70, Steve Flesch 68 69, Danny Ellis 65 72

138 Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 70 68, Charles Howell 68 70

Other international scores

139 Bradley Hughes (Australia) 71 68

141 Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70 71, Steve Elkington (Australia) 70 71, David Frost (South Africa) 69 72, Frank Nobilo (New Zealand) 69 72, Grant Waite (New Zealand) 70 71, Jose Coceres (Argentina) 66 75

142 Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 71 71, Jesper Parnevik (Sweden) 73 69, Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 71 71

143 Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 64 79

144 Fulton Allem (South Africa) 71 73, Ernie Els (South Africa) 73 71, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 70 74

145 Luke Donald (Britain) 71 74

146 Kaname Yokoo (Japan) 71 75, K.J. Choi (South Korea) 71 75

148 Gabriel Hjertstedt (Sweden) 72 76.—Reuters